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The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:32
Because thy way is perverse. יָרָט, an uncommon word, which seems to mean "leading headlong," 1.e. to destruction.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:32
ON CRUELTY TO ANIMALS In Numbers 22:28 we are reminded of the silent protest of the brute creation against the cruelty of men. From Numbers 22:32 ("Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times?") we may learn…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:33
Unless … surely. אוּלַי־־־כִּי. It is somewhat doubtful whether this phrase can be translated as in the Septuagint ( εἰ μὴ … νῦν οὗν)and in all the versions; but even if the construction of the sentence be broken,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:35
Go with the men. It may be asked to what purpose the angel appeared, if Balaam was to proceed just the same. The answer is that the angel was not a warning, but a destroying, angel, a visible embodiment of the anger of…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 22:36-41
Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner. Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him. He seems to speak with vexation; but is really as desirous to please Balak, as ever he had prete…
Meeting between Balak and Balaam. (b. c. 1452.)
MEETING BETWEEN BALAK AND BALAAM. (B. C. 1452.) We have here the meeting between Balak and Balaam, confederate enemies to God's Israel; but here they seem to differ in their expectations of the success. 1. Balak speaks…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:36-38
BALAAM AND BALAK MEET AT LAST I. BALAK'S SOLICITUDE TO CONCILIATE BALAAM AND SHOW HIM HONOUR. Balak does not yet know what unhealed wounds may be in the prophet's pride, or whether that pride has been sufficiently pleas…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:36
Unto a city of Moab, or, "unto Ir-Moab" ( אֶל־עִיר מוֹאָב), probably the same as the Ar mentioned in Numbers 21:15 as the boundary town of Moab at that time.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:39
Kirjath-huzoth. "City of streets." Identified by some with the ruins of Shian, not far from the supposed site of Ai.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:40
Balak offered oxen and sheep. Probably these sacrifices were offered not to Chemosh, but to the Lord, in whose name Balaam always spoke. Indeed the known fact that Beldam was a prophet of the Lord was no doubt one of Ba…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:41
EXPOSITION BALAAM'S PROPHECIES (Numbers 22:41).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 22:41
The high places of Baal, or "Bamoth-Baal." Perhaps the Bamoth mentioned in Numbers 21:19, Numbers 21:20. This is, however, by no means certain, because high places were no doubt numerous, and that Bamoth would seem to h…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 23:1-10
With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is…
Balaam Constrained to Bless Israel; The Blessing Pronounced on Israel. (b. c. 1452.)
BALAAM CONSTRAINED TO BLESS ISRAEL; THE BLESSING PRONOUNCED ON ISRAEL. (B. C. 1452.) Here is, I. Great preparation made for the cursing of Israel. That which was aimed at was to engage the God of Israel to forsake them,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:1
Build me here seven altars. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his favourable consideration on thei…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:3
Peradventure the Lord will come to meet me. It might be concluded from Numbers 24:1 that Balaam went only to look for "auguries," i.e; for such natural signs in the flight of birds and the like as the heathen were wont…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:4
I have prepared seven altars. Balaam, acting for the king of Moab, his heathen patron, in this difficult business, points out to God that he had given him the full quota of sacrifices to begin with. It was implied in th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:7
Took up his parable. מָשָׁל (cf. Numbers 21:27). Balaam's utterances were in the highest degree poetical, according to the antithetic form of the poetry of that day, which delighted in sustained parallelisms, in lofty f…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:9
The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned. Rather, "It is a people that dwelleth apart, and is not numbered." It was not the outward isolation on which his eye was fixed, for that indeed was only temporary…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:10
The fourth part of Israel. אֶת־רבַע is so rendered by the Targums, as alluding to the four great camps into which the host was divided. The Septuagint has δήμους, apparently from an incorrect reading. The Samaritan and…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 23:11-30
Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is bo…
Balaam Again Blesses Israel. (b. c. 1452.)
BALAAM AGAIN BLESSES ISRAEL. (B. C. 1452.) Here is, I. Preparation made the second time, as before, for the cursing of Israel. 1. The place is changed, Numbers 23:13. Balak fancied that Balaam, having so full a prospect…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:13
Come … unto another place. Balak attributed the miscarriage of his enterprise thus far to something inauspicious in the locality. Thou shalt see but the utmost part of them. אֶפֶס קָצֶהוּ תִרְאֶה. Both the meaning of th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 23:14
The field of Zophim, i.e; of the watchers. Probably a well-known outlook. To the top of Pisgah. They followed apparently on the track of their enemies (see on Numbers 21:20).