Numbers 22:33 - Exposition

Unless … surely. אוּלַי־־־כִּי . It is somewhat doubtful whether this phrase can be translated as in the Septuagint ( εἰ μὴ … νῦν οὗν )and in all the versions; but even if the construction of the sentence be broken, this is no doubt the meaning of it. And saved her alive. Compare the case of the ass of the disobedient prophet in 1 Kings 13:24 . It is plainly a righteous thing with God that obedience and faithfulness should be respected, and in some sense rewarded, even in an ass.