numbers-23:1-11,-numbers-23:24-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Who can count, the dust of Jacob ,.... The people of Israel, their posterity so called, not because of their original, the dust of the earth, but because of their numbers, being as numerous as the dust of the earth, or sand of the sea, as it was promised they should be, Genesis 28:14 and which is here confirmed by the prophecy of Balaam: and the number of the fourth part of Israel ; one of the four camps of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; for this people was divided... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:11

And Balak said unto Balaam, what hast thou done unto me ?.... Or "for me" F6 לי "pro me". ; nothing at all, to answer his purpose, or his end in sending for him: I took thee to curse mine enemies : so he calls the Israelites, though they had never done him any wrong; nor committed any acts of hostility against him, nor showed any intention to commit any; nay, were forbidden by the Lord their God to contend in battle with him and his people: and, behold, thou hast blessed them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1

Build me here seven altars, etc. - The oxen and the rams were such as the Mosaic law had ordered to be offered to God in sacrifice; the building of seven altars was not commanded. Some think that these seven altars were built to the seven planets: this is most gratuitously said; of it there is no proof whatever; it is mere trifling, even with conjecture. As seven was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice, and to offer a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:3

Stand by thy burnt-offering - We have already seen that blessing and cursing in this way were considered as religious rites, and therefore must be always preceded by sacrifice. See this exemplified in the case of Isaac, before he blessed Jacob and Esau, Genesis 27 (note), and the notes there. The venison that was brought to Isaac, of which he did eat, was properly the preparatory sacrifice. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:7

And he took up his parable - משלו meshalo , see on Numbers 21:27 ; (note). All these oracular speeches of Balaam are in hemistich metre in the original. They are highly dignified, and may be considered as immediate poetic productions of the Spirit of God; for it is expressly said, Numbers 23:5 , that God put the word in Balaam's mouth, and that the Spirit of God came upon him, Numbers 24:2 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? - It was granted on all hands that no incantations nor imprecations could avail, unless God concurred and ratified them. From God's communication to Balaam he saw that God was determined to bless and defend Israel, and therefore all endeavors to injure them must be in vain. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

From the top of the rocks I see him - That is, from the high places of Baal where he went, Numbers 22:41 , that he might the more advantageously see the whole camp of Israel. The people shall dwell alone - They shall ever be preserved as a distinct nation. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled through a period of 3300 years to the present day. This is truly astonishing. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

Let me die the death of the righteous - Probably Balaam had some presentiment that he should be taken off by a premature death, and therefore he lodges this petition against it. The death of the righteous in those times implied being gathered to one's fathers in a good old age, having seen his children, and children's children; and to this, probably, the latter part of this petition applies: And let my last end be like his, ( כמהו אחריתי ותהי uthehi acharithi chamohu , And let my... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1

Verse 1 1.Build me here seven altars. We more positively conclude from hence that this degenerate prophet had been by no means wont to prophesy in accordance with pure revelations from God, but that the art of divination, in which he boasted, had some affinity to magical exorcisms, and was infected with many errors and deceptions. Still this did not prevent him from being sometimes a true prophet by the inspiration of God’s Spirit; because, as has been already said, whilst the world was plunged... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:3

Verse 3 3.And Balaam said unto Balak. In this respect, also, he imitates the true servants of God: for he seeks retirement, because God has almost always appeared unto His servants when they have been separated from the company of men. You would say that he was another Moses, when he exhorts the king to persevering prayer, and, in order that he may be more earnest in supplication, bids him remain perfectly still by the altars. Meanwhile he withdraws himself from the crowd, and the eyes of the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:3

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