Numbers 23

Numbers 23:1

SEven altars] He builds altars to consult with God, he should first have consulted with God about the building of his altars.

Numbers 23:2

Balak and Balaam] Among the Gentiles Kings ofttimes used to sacrifice, as did the Priests.

offered] It is not said to whom they offered; but it seemeth it was not to Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, Chap. 21. 29. but to the God that spake unto Balaam, ver. 4.

Numbers 23:4

met Balaam] In some evident apparition, whereby he might know who it was that spake to him.

I have offered] He would now bribe God with sacrifices, (as the King of Moab would doe him with offers of reward, and worship) to turne the blessing of his people into curses.

Numbers 23:5

thus shalt thou speake] As it followeth, vers. 8, &c.

Numbers 23:7

of the East] Aram, or Syria: of which name there were divers Countries, but this is that which was called Aram Naharim, or according to the Greekes, Mesopotamia. Joseph. Antiq. lib. 4. cap. 6. Both which words note the situation of it betwixt two rivers, and the rivers are Tigris and Euphrates. This Aram is in situation East-ward from the land of Moab. See Deuteronomy 23:4. & Isaiah 2:6.

Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse] How easie a thing is it to wagge a wicked tongue? yet without Gods leave, neither King nor Prophet can have so much power against his people: How easie is it for him to binde their hands to the peace, who so bindes their tongues to the good behaviour towards them, as to make them fall to blessing, when they would be cursing?

Numbers 23:9

dwell alone] They shall have their Religion and Lawes apart, not communicating therein with other Nations, Esther 3. 8.

among the nations] Among the profane or idolatrous Nations; severed from them as Gods peculiar people.

Numbers 23:10

dust of Jacob] The infinite multitude of Jacobs or Israels posteritie are as the dust of the earth, Genesis 13. 16.

let me die] He would be like the godly in an happy death, but he cared not to be like them in an holy life; but his end is not like to be the same with theirs, unlesse he walke the same way with them, Proverbs 11:7. Numbers 31:8.

Numbers 23:13

but the utmost part] Chap. 22. vers. 41. There are the same words without the word but; The meaning is, that in his former prospect, Cha. 22. he so saw the utmost part, and that he saw on each side, and the middle within; but here he had but a view of a part of the utmost part, and he would have him curse that in the name of the whole.

not see them all] For being so many as to be compared to the dust of the earth, too many for the fourth part of them to be counted, vers. 10. the number might dismay him, therefore he must see but a part, and in that curse the whole.

Numbers 23:14

Pisgah] Is a place of height or exaltation, and so is taken for an hill, in generall; yet there was an hill in the Land of Moab called Pisgah in particular, Deuteronomy 3:27. & Chap. 34. vers. 1.

Numbers 23:19

hath he spoken] He hath said I shall not curse, and if he said it, he will make me make good what he hath said; and I cannot say more or lesse in this matter, then he is pleased to put into my mouth, vers. 20.

Numbers 23:20

to blesse] The blessing as from Balaam was vaine, because he was a wicked man; but as he was commanded by God to blesse, so it was not vaine, though he were a wicked man.

Numbers 23:21

the shout] That is, a valorous shout of a puissant King and his people, encouraging each other to the Battell; and victorious shout, as having obtained the victorie in the hattell.

Numbers 23:22

an Ʋnicorne] Or, Licorne, as Pliny calleth him, lib. 8. cap. 21. is a very strong beast, Job 39. 10, 11. and armed with a dangerous weapon against any adversary, Deuteronomy 33:17. There are two kindes of Unicornes, the one is called Rhinoceros, which hath an horne on his nose, Plin. Hist. 50: 8. 100: 20. the other on his head, Ibid, 100: 21,

Numbers 23:23

against Jacob] Or. in Israel. None against Israel shall be of force, or take effect to doe the posteritie of Jacob or Israel any hurt; or none in Iacob, or among the posteritie of Jacob shall either need, or use such unlawfull meanes either of telling, or fore-telling, or of effecting any thing by devillish arts or meanes, as the Gentiles doe, since they shall have God to consult with, and ready both to counsell them in doubtfull cases, and to defend them against all their enemies.

What hath God wrought] Men shall by way of wonder at Gods doing on their behalfe, at this time aske, What hath God wrought?

Numbers 23:27

another place] It is an old superstition to ascribe the efficacie of religious services to places, and to thinke that Gods presence or power admits of any locall limitation, so that he is not present, or favourable, or powerfull as well in one place as another.