Numbers 22:28-33

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:22-35

We have here an account of the opposition God gave to Balaam in his journey towards Moab; probably the princes had gone before, or gone some other way, and Balaam had pointed out where he would meet them, or where they should stay for him, for we read nothing of them in this part of our narrative, only that Balaam, like a person of some quality, was attended with his two men-honour enough, one would think, for such a man, he needed not be beholden to Balak for promotion. I. Here is God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:28

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam ,.... This was a very extraordinary and miraculous affair, and effected by a supernatural power, that a dumb creature, which had not organs endued with speech, should speak so plainly and distinctly, as is after expressed; and yet it should not be thought incredible, for what is it that Omnipotence cannot do? wherefore there is no need to say, as some Jewish writers F9 Maimon. Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 42. Ben Gersom in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:29

And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me ,.... Or rather "defiled me", as the word is rendered in Job 16:15 by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it,"because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;'the sense of mocking is not easy to be understood, unless it be that it exposed him to be mocked and laughed at by others, by turning aside, and lying down, and being so unruly; but then there were only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:30

And the ass said unto Balaam ,.... Made a reply to him, as if it understood what he said, and had the faculty of reasoning and discoursing, as well as of speaking, which is very amazing: am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? or rather, "ever since thou wast"; not ever since he was in being, but ever since he could ride, so Aben Ezra; according to which, it seems that this was the first he rode upon, and which he had always been used to;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:31

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam ,.... Who either was struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were, so some think, or rather his eyes were held, that he could not see the angel; he could see other objects, as his ass, but he could not see that; as Elisha's servant could see the host that compassed the city, but not the chariots and horses of fire about Elisha, till his eyes were opened, 2 Kings 6:15 and so it was with Balaam until the Lord uncovered his eyes, or rolled away the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:32

And the angel of the Lord said unto him ,.... When risen up, and standing before him: wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times ? the brute creatures are not to be beaten without cause, nor to be misused and abused by men, even their owners: behold, I went out to withstand thee ; the ass was not to be blamed, nor to be beaten for turning aside, or lying down, it was I that stood in the way, and hindered its going forward, and this was done by me on purpose to oppose and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:33

And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times ,.... The ass saw the angel when Balaam did not, and that was the reason of its turning aside; and it was well for him it did, and therefore he should not have smote it: unless she had turned from me ; if she had pushed on, endeavouring to make her way: surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive ; had certainly and only slain him, and not the ass; and from hence the Jewish writers F20 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 20.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:28

The Lord opened the mouth of the ass - And where is the wonder of all this? If the ass had opened her own mouth, and reproved the rash prophet, we might well be astonished; but when God opens the mouth, an ass can speak as well as a man. It is worthy of remark here, that Balaam testifies no surprise at this miracle, because he saw it was the Lord's doing. Of animate and inanimate things receiving for a short time the gift of speech, the heathen mythology furnishes many fictitious examples,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:33

Surely now also I had slain thee - How often are the meanest animals, and the most trivial occurrences, instruments of the preservation of our lives, and of the salvation of our souls! The messenger of justice would have killed Balaam, had not the mercy of God prevented the ass from proceeding. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:28

Verse 28 28.And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass. Sceptical persons criticize this passage, and ridicule it, as if Moses related an incredible fable. And, indeed, their scoff appears to be plausible, when they object that there is a great difference between the bray of all ass and all articulate voice; but, however they may now indulge in such wanton observations, they will at length be made to feel how seriously and reverently we ought to speak of the marvellous works of God, by their... read more

Group of Brands