Numbers 23

Balak and Bileam slay and offer oxen and rams, v.1.etc God putteth a blessing over Israel into Bileams mouth 5. which Balak is troubled at, 11. They go to another place to curse the people of God, 13. and there they offer again sacrifice, 14. God meets Bileam again, and putteth yet a greater blessing into Bileams mouth, 16. Balak bringeth Bileam to a third place, where they offer sacrifice again, 27.

1. Then said Bileam to Balak; build me here seven altars; and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

2. Balak now did according as Bileam had spoken; and Balak and Bileam offered a bullock and a ram upon every altar.

3. Then Bileam said to Balak; aside standing by thy burnt-offering, and I will goe, [viz to enquire of God; but that he did in an undue manner see chap.24.] preadvanture shall the LORD meet mee, [Heb. meeting meet me] and that which he shall shew, the same shall I make known unto thee: then he went up to the high (place) [others alone.]

4. When God met Bileam, he said to him, Seven altars here I prepared, and have offered a bullock and a ram on each altar.

5. Then the LORD put, (or layd) the word in Bileams mouth, and said, return to Balak, and speak thus:

6. Now when he returned to him, behold he stood by his burnt-offering, he and all the princes of the Moabites.

7. Then he lifted up his sentence, [By the word Lifting up, is implied here, that Bileam raised and lifted up his voice to make a loud and audible proclamation, of what he had to say] and said: out of Syria [i.e. from Mesopotamia, which lay in Syria, Deuteronomy 23:4. Heb, out of Aram] hath Balak the king of the Moabites caused me to be fetched; from the mountain towards the East (saying,) Come curse me Jacob, rebuked Israel. [i.e. the posterity of Jacob or Israel, that is to say, the Israelites.]

8. What, (Or, why, flow,) shall I curse, whom God doth not curse? and what shall I rebuke, where the LORD doth not rebuke?

9. For from the top of the rocks do I see him, and from the hills do I behold, that people shall dwell alone, [i.e. they shall be separated from all other Nations, and have no communication with them, in either Ecclesiasticall or Civil governments or affairs: See Mich.7.14. with the Annot.] and they shall not be reckoned among the Heathen (Nations.)

10. Who shall number the dust of Jacob? [i.e. his children, seed, posterity; See Gen.13.16. and ch.28.14.] and the number, (yea) the fourth part of Israel? [others the number of a quarter. It should seem that Bileam had looked upon the Camp of Israel, which was divided in four principal quarters, round about the Tabernacle, Numb.2.] Let my soul die the death of the upright, [or, of those that are right, i.e. let me die the death of righteous or just men; but Bileam perished among Gods enemies, below, chap.31.8. Jos.13.2. See also 2 Cor 11. 15.] and let my utter most be like his, [to wit, Israels.]

11. Then Balak said to Bileam; What hast thou done to me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, but loe, thou hast altogether blessed them. [Heb. blessing hast thou blessed them.]

12. And he answered and said: shall not I observe to speak that, which the LORD hath put into my mouth?

13. Then Balak said to him; Come with me, I pray, to another place, whence thou shalt see him; thou shalt see nothing but his end (or utmost part,) but not see him altogether, and curse me him from thence. [As if he had said; Thou maist perhaps have been daunted before, with the sight of such a multitude, and therefore didst not dare to curse them in that place; others, read it thus; Whence thou shalt see him, [thou sawest onely his end but thou hast not wholly seen him, &c.]

14. Thus he took him along to field of Zophim, on the top of Pisga: and he built seven Altars, and he offered a bullock and a ram upon each Altar.

15. Then he said to Balak, abide standing here by thy burnt-offering: and I will meet him [viz. the LORD, to enquire of him] there.

16. When the LORD met Bileam, he put the word into his mouth; [See above, ch.22.35.] and he said; return to Balak, and speak thus:

17. When he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the Princes of the Moabites by him: Balak now said unto him, what hath the LORD spoken?

18. Then he lifted up his sentence, [See above, v.7.] and said: arise Balak and hear [viz. to receive the Word of the Lord with due reverence. See Jud.3.20.] incline thine ears to thou son of Zippor.

19. God is no man that he should lie, nor a child of man, that it should repent him; should he say, and not do it? or speak, and not make it steadfast? [Heb. to stand.]

20. Behold, I have received to bliss: [viz. this people of Israel; for this he saith he received Gods command, and could not but obey the same] because he blesseth, I shall not reverse it. [he, viz. the LORD.]

21. He, [viz. the LORD] regardeth not the iniquity in Jacob, [The meaning is, God is so kind and gracious to the Israelites, that he doth in a manner not see or heed, at least not impute their sins unto them] nor doth he look upon the malice [oth. Perverseness, or, toil, trouble, labour] in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the sound [viz. of Trumpets, having regard to the silver Trumpets, whereof see ab. Ch.10.9. Jos.6.16, 20. Jud.7.20. and 2 Chr.13.12.] of the king [i.e. of God the King of all kings. This passage may well be applied to the preaching of the word of God.] is with him. [viz. with Jacob, or Israel.]

22. God hath carried (or led, brought) them forth out of Egypt: his powers are as an Unicorns. [The Unicorn is especially commended for his strength in the Scriptures, below, ch.24.8. Deut.33.17. Job 39:12. Psal.22.22. and 92.11. This creature was known in those days, but what it was properly, is now unknown.]

23. For their enchantment (or witchcraft) against Jacob, nor sooth saying against Israel. i.e. those acts and practices avail nothing against the Israelites. Others, in Jacob, etc. in Israel] At this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, what God wrought. [i.e. it shall not onely be recorded and related in times hereafter, what strange and wonderful works God wrought among this people, but even now at this present time, it will be the matter of discourse and admiration: oth read, what is that which God hath done?]

24. Loe, the people shall rise up like an old Lion, and they shall exalt, themselves like a Lion: they will not lied down, till they have eaten the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.

25. Then Balak said to Bileam; Thou shalt neither curse it wholly, nor bless it in any kind. [Heb. cursing, not curse, and blessing, not bless.]

26. But Bileam answered, and said to Balak: did I not speak unto thee, saying, Whatsoever the LORD shall peak, the same I shall do?

27. Further, Balak said to Bileam, Come, I pray, I will take thee along to another place: peradventure shall it be right in the eyes of that God, that thou curse it [viz. the people of Israel] me thence.

28. Then Balak took Bileam along, to the top of Peor, [The name of a mountain, called Phogor by the Greeks, whereon the Moabites used to offer sacrifices to their Idol, called Baal-Peor, below ch.25.2, 3, 18. and where they had a Temple, called Beth Peor, Deut.3.29. also there was a City of that name, which afterwards fell to the share of the Reubenites, jos.13.15, 20.] which looketh towards the wilderness.

29. And Bileam said to Balak; build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven Bullocks, and seven rams.

30. Balak now did, according as Bileam had said: and he offered a Bullock and a ram upon each altar.