Numbers 22

Balak the King of the Moabites sendeth for Bileam to curse Israel, verse 1. etc. Bileam enquireth of the LORD, what he should do,8. who forbids him to go, 12. Balak sends for him the second time, 15. and the LORD lets him go, 20. The angel would have Killed him, had not his she-asse stept out of the way, 21 and lay down under him, 27. Bileams eyes are opened that he saw the Angel, 31. Who rebuked him, 32. And he confesseth his fault, and is ready to return, 34. But the Angel permits him to go on, 35. Balak comes to meet Bileam and receives him stately, 36. but what honour soever he bestoweth upon him, he cannot move him to curse Israel, 38.

1. After that the children of Israel journeyed, and camped themselves in the plain fields of Moab on this side the Jordan of Jericho. [i.e. that part of it which passeth near by Jericho, or which had a Ferry or Ford by Jericho.]

2. When Balak the son of Zippor [This Balak was at this time King of the Moabites, verse 4. see more of him, Jud.11.25. and Mich.6.5.] saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3. Then Moab was sore afraid before the face of this people, for they were many: [Here is full filled that which was foretold, Exodus 15:15.] and Moab was distressed [or grew vexed, as Exodus 1. vers.12.] before the face of Israel.

4. Therefore Moab said to the eldest of the Midianites; [Called Princes, below, v.7,8.] Now will this company lick up [i.e. consume and devour] all that is round about us, [Hebr. All our round- abouts, or round aboutnesses] as the Ox licketh up the verdure of the field: At that time now Balak the son of Zippor was King of the Moabites.

5. The same sent messengers to Bileam [Jos.13.2. he is called a fore-teller: See below, chap.24.1. The apostle Peter calls him a prophet, 2 Pet.2.16.] the son of Beor at Pethor, [a City in Mesopotamia, below, c.23.7. Deut.23.4.] which is by the river, [viz. Euphrates] in the Land of the children of his people, [i.e. in his, viz. Bileams own country, or fatherland, which was Mesopotamia, as appeareth below, chap.23.7.] for to call him; saying; Behold there is a people come forth out of Egypt; behold, they have covered the face [Heb. eye. See Exod.10.5, 15. and below v.11.] of the Land, and they remain lying right over against me.

6. And now, come I pray, curse this people; for they are mightier then I, peradventure I shall be able to smite them, or shall drive them out of the Land: for I know that whom thou blesses, the same shall be blessed, and whom thou cursest, the same shall be cursed.

7. Then the eldest of the Moabites, and the eldest of the Midianites went, and had the (wages of) the sooth-saying: [2 Pet.2. it is called the wages of unrighteousness. See Jer.22. on v.13.] so they came to Bileam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8. He then said unto them, tarry here this night, and I shall return you an answer, according as the LORD shall have spoken unto me: then the Princes of the Moabites stayed with Bileam.

9. And God came to Bileam, [viz. in the night] and said, who are the men that are the men that are with thee?

10. Then Bileam said to God; Balak the son of Zippor, the King of the Moabites, hath sent them to me, saying;

11. Behold, there is a people come forth out of Egypt, and they have covered the face of the land: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, or drive them out.

12. Then God said to Bileam; Thou shalt not goe with them: thou shalt not curse that people, for they are blessed.

13. Then Bileam arose in the morning, and said to the Princes of Balak, Go to your Land: for the LORD, refuseth to permit me to go with you. [Or, refuseth me leave to go with you.]

14. Then the Princes of the Moabites arose, and came to Balak: and they said; Bileam hath refused to go with us. [As Bileam said lesse to the Moabitish princes, then God hath spoken to him; so these messengers tell their master, King Balak, Less then Bileam had told them.]

15. Yet Balak went on to send Princes, more and more honourable then those were. [viz. That were sent first.]

16. Who came to Bileam and told him; Thus saith Balak, the son of Zippor; Let nothing I pray, let thee to come to me.

17. For I shall very highly honour thee, [Heb. honouring I shall honour thee] and whatsoever thou shalt say unto me, I will doe; come then I pray, curse me this people.

18. Then answered Bileam, and said to the servants of Balak; If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, [Heb. the fullness of his house] yet should I not be able to transgress the command [Hebr. The mouth] of the LORD my God; [hence it appeareth that Bileam had some Knowledge of the true God, in regard of this transaction; yet neither wholly nor uprightly] to do small or great (matters.)

19. And now tarry ye likewise here ,l pray,this night,[viz.as fomer Ambaffaadours had done]that l may know what the shall further speak to me.[Bileam makes shew further that he would do nothing in this matter, but what God should be pleased to command him,whereas he knew well enough,that God had already forbidden him to curse Israel,in expresse and plain terms.]

20. Now God came to Bileam by night, and said to him ;Because those men are came to thee, arise go with them :and nevertheless thy shalt do that, which l shall speak unto thee [God permits Bileam to go indeed at length with balaks Ambassadours, not that he was pleased therewith, as appears by verse.22.but the more to discover the evil disposition of Bileam, and to manifest his own glory therein, that Bileam was constrained still to bless the people, which he intended to curse.]

21. Then Bileam rose in the morning, and saddled his shee-asse, and he went along with his princes of Moab.

22. But the anger of God was kindled because of [Others as] he went along ,[viz. with such an intent and purpose to curse the people of God.]and the Angel of the Lord put himself in the way ,for an adversary [Hebrew.satan]to him: now he rode upon his shee-asse, and two of his youths were with him.

23. The shee-asse now saw the angel of Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hands ,[This was a token of wrath and vengeances as .Joshua.5.13. &.c [Chronicles. 21. 16.] Therefore shee-asse turned out of the way, and went into the field : then Bileam smote the shee-asse [viz.with his rod or staff]to make her turn into the way.

24. But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of vineyards , (there) being a wall on this, and a wall on that side.

25. When the shee-asse saw the angel of the Lord ,shee thrust (or pressed) herself to the wall ,and crusht Bileams foot on the wall, therefore he held on to beat her.

26. Then the angel of the Lord went further yet, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way for to turn to the right or to the left hand.

27. When the shee-asse saw the angel of Lord, she lay down under Bileam: and the wrath of Bileam kindled, and he smote the shee- asse with a staff.

28. Now the Lord opened the mouth of the shee-ass that she said to Bileam , what have l done thee ,that thou hast smitten me three times now?

29. Then said Bileam to the she-ass; because thou hast mocked me : o that l had a sword in my hand !for l would kill thee now.

30. The she-ass now said to Bileam; am not I thy shee-asse, whereon thou hast ridden, (ever) since thou wast (my master) until this day? have I ever been wont, [Heb. have I having the manner, had the manner] to do thus unto hee? Then be said no.

31. Then the LORD uncovered the eyes of Bileam, so that he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand: therefore he inclined the head, and bowed himself upon his face.

32. Then the Angel of the LORD said unto him, why hast thou smitten thy she-asse three times now? behold I am gone forth for an adversary (to thee) because this way [which thou art in] turneth away from me. [Heb. over against me, i.e. in my presence, under mine own eyes; the meaning is, God was offended with Bileam, because he went about another way and course of proceedings, then God had declared and commanded. See 2 Pet.2.15.]

33. But the she-asse hath seen me, and she hath turned aside before my face, three times now: had she not turned aside before my face assuredly I should now also have, put thee to death, and saved her alive.

34. Then Bileam said to the Angel of the LORD, I have sinned, for I know not that thou stoodst in the way to meet me: and now is it evil in thine eyes? [i.e. displeasing unto thee] I will return. [Heb. I will return me.]

35. The angel of the LORD now said to Bileam, go thy way with these men, but onely that word which I shall speak to thee, that thou shalt speak: thus Bileam went with the princes of Balak.

36. When Balak heard that Bileam came, then he went forth to meet him, to the city of the Moabites, which (lieth) on the border of Arnon, that is at the utmost border.

37. And Balak said to Bileam: have not I earnestly sent unto thee, [Heb. sending sent] for to call thee? wherefore didst thou not come unto me? Am not I able to honor thee aright?

38. Then Bileam said to Balak; Behold I am come unto thee; shall I be any ways able now [Heb. being able be able] to speak ought? [to wit, according to my own will, besides or contrary to Gods?] the word, which God shall put into my mouth, that shall I speak.

39. And Bileam went with Balak; and they came to Kirjath-Huzoth [Oth. The city of the streets, or into the city that lay without.]

40. Then Balak slew bullocks and sheep; [viz for sacrifice, and the remaining pieces they did eat themselves at their publick meales: see below, chap.25.2.] and he sent to Bileam, and to the princes that were with him.

41. And it came to passé in the morning, [To wit, of the second day, after the feast of the sacrifice] that Balak took Bileam, and carried him up to the high places of Baal: that from thence he might see the utmost (part) of the people. [viz. of Israel.]