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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:19
And from Mattanah to Nahaliel. The latter name, which means "the brook of God," seems to be still retained by the Encheileh, one of the northern affluents of the Wady Mojeb. From Nahaliel to Bamoth. Bamoth simply means…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:20
And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah. The original runs simply thus: "And from Bamoth—the valley which in the field—Moab—the top—Pisgah." It may therefore be read, "And fro…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:21
And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon. The narrative here returns to the point of time when the Israelites first reached the Upper Arnon, the boundary stream of the kingdom of Sihon (see on Numbers 21:13, and cf. Deuter…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:22
Let me pass through thy land. Cf. Numbers 20:17. Israel was not commanded to spare the Amorites, indeed he was under orders to smite them (Deuteronomy 2:24), but that did not prevent his approaching them in the first in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:23
And he came to Jahaz, or Jahzah, a place of which we know nothing.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:24
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword. This was the first time that generation had seen war, if we except the uncertain episode of the king of Arad, and they could have had no weapons but such as their fathers…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:25
And Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites. The territory overrun at this time was about fifty miles north and south, by nearly thirty east and west. It was not permanently occupied until a somewhat later period…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:26
All his land. This is qualified by what follows: "even unto Arnon" (cf. 11:13-19).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:27
They that speak in proverbs. הַמָּשְׁלִים. Septuagint, οἰ αἰνιγματισταί. A class of persons well marked among the Hebrews, as perhaps in all ancient countries. It was their gift, and almost their profession, to expre…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:28
There is a fire gone out of Heshbon. This must refer to the war-fire which the Amorites kindled from Heshbon when they made it the capital of the new kingdom. Ar Moab and the (northern) heights of Arnon were the furthes…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:29
O people of Chemosh. עַם־כָּמוּשׁ. Chemosh was the national god of the Moabites (1 Kings 11:7; Jeremiah 48:7), and also to some extent of the Ammonites ( 11:24). It is generally agreed that the name is derived from the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:30
We have shot at them. וַגִּירָם. A poetical word of somewhat doubtful meaning. It is generally supposed to be a verbal form (first person plural imperf. Kal), from יָרָה, with an unusual suffix (cf. יִלְבָּשָׁם for יִלְ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:32
Jaazer. Perhaps the present es-Szir, some way to the north of Heshbon (see on Jeremiah 48:32). This victory completed the conquest of Sihon's kingdom.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:33
They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. The brevity of the narrative does not allow us to know who went upon this expedition, or why they went. It may have been only the detachment which had reconnoitered and take…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:34
Fear him not. He might well have been formidable, not only on account of his size (cf. Deuteronomy 1:28; Deuteronomy 3:11; 1 Samuel 17:11), but from the formidable nature of those walled cities which are still a wonder…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 21:35
So they smote him. Acting under the direct commands of God, they exterminated the Amorites of the northern as they had of the southern kingdom. Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward. Not necessarily after…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:1-40
EXPOSITION THE COMING OF BALAAM (Numbers 22:2-40).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:2-4
MOAB TAKES ALARM I. AN INTERESTED OBSERVER OF AN IMPORTANT ACTION. "Balak saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites." The thing was worth observing in itself, that this great host of people, coming with but little no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:2
Balak the son of Zippor. The name Balak is connected with a word "to make waste," and "Zippor" is a small bird. Balak was, as is presently explained, the king of Moab at this time, but not the king from whom Sihon had w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:2-40
THE WAY OF BALAAM In this section we have some of the profoundest and most subtle, as well as some of the most practical, moral and religious teachings of the Old Testament. In order to draw them out fully we may consid…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:3
Moab was sore afraid of the people. While the Israelites had moved along their eastern and north-eastern border, the Moabites supplied them with provisions (Deuteronomy 2:29), desiring, no doubt, to be rid of them, but…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:4
Moab said unto the elders of Midian. The Midianites were descended from Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2, Genesis 25:4), and were thus more nearly of kin to Israel than to Moab. They lived a semi-nomadic life on the st…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:5
He sent messengers therefore. It appears from Numbers 22:7 that Balak acted for Midian as well as for Moab; as the Midianites were but a weak people, they may have placed themselves more or less under the protection of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:6
I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. This was the language of flattery intended to secure the prophet's services. No doubt, however, Balak, like other heathens, had a profound…