Numberschapter 23

30 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 285 cross-references outward and receives 283 — heaviest partner: Numbers.

See Numbers book hub for context

Chapter summary

Balaam's first two oracles. Seven altars, seven bullocks, seven rams on each of Bamoth-baal, Zophim, and the top of Pisgah. ‘How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? … Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his’ (23:10). Balak moves him to another vantage; a second oracle: ‘God is not a man, that he should lie … hath he said, and shall he not do it?’ (23:19). Israel seen from a fresh hill; the verdict is the same. Balak is in turmoil: ‘if thou canst not curse them at all, then bless them not at all’.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Numbers overview for the book's full setting.

1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: peradventure Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a bare height.

4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.

5 And Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

7 And he took up his parable, and said, From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel.

8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!

11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah putteth in my mouth?

13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.

14 And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.

15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet Jehovah yonder.

16 And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.

17 And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?

18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

19 God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?

20 Behold, I have receivedcommandmentto bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.

22 God bringeth them forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox.

23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

24 Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness, And as a lion doth he lift himself up: He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, And drink the blood of the slain.

25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh, that I must do?

27 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

28 And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert.

29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.

Continue: Numbers 24 →