Numbers22

English Standard Version

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¹Then the of and in the of the at .

²And the of had to the .

³And was in the , they were . was overcome with the of .

⁴And to the of , This will now that is us, as the licks the of the . So the of , who was of at that ,

⁵ to the of at , which is near the in the of the of , to him, , , a has of . They the of the , and they are me.

⁶ , for me, since they are too for me. I shall be to them and them the , I that he you is , and he you is .

⁷So the of and the of with the fees for in their . And they to and him .

⁸And he to them, , and I will to you, as the Lord to me. So the of with .

⁹And to and , are with you?

¹⁰And to , the of , of , has to me, saying,

¹¹ , a has of , and it the of the . , them for me. I shall be to fight them and them out.

¹² to , You shall with them. You shall the , they are .

¹³So in the and to the of , to your own , the Lord has to let with you.

¹⁴So the of and to and , to with us.

¹⁵Once , more in and more .

¹⁶And they to and to him, the of : you from to me,

¹⁷ I will , and you to me I will do. , for me.

¹⁸But and to the of , were to me his of and , I go the of the Lord my to or .

¹⁹ you, , here , that I may what the Lord will to me.

²⁰And to at and to him, If the have to you, , with them; only I you.

²¹So in the and his and with the of .

²²But was he , and the of the Lord in the as his . Now he was on the , and his were with him.

²³And the the of the Lord in the , with a in his . And the out of the and into the . And the , to her into the .

²⁴Then the of the Lord in a between the , with a .

²⁵And when the the of the Lord, she the and against the . So he her .

²⁶Then the of the Lord and in a , there was to either to the or to the .

²⁷When the the of the Lord, she . And was , and he the with his .

²⁸Then the Lord the of the , and she to , have I to you, you have me these ?

²⁹And to the , you have made a of me. I I a in my , for then I would you.

³⁰And the to , Am I not your , you have your life to this ? Is it my to treat this ? And he , .

³¹Then the Lord the of , and he the of the Lord in the , with his in his . And he and on his .

³²And the of the Lord to him, have you your ? , I have to you your is me.

³³The me and me . she had not aside from , just I would have and let her .

³⁴Then to the of the Lord, I have , I did you in the me. therefore, it is in your , I will .

³⁵And the of the Lord to , with the , but the that I you. So on with the of .

³⁶When that had , he went to him at the of , on the formed by the , at the of the .

³⁷And to , I to you to you? did you to me? Am I to you?

³⁸ to , , I have to you! Have I any of my to ? The that in my , that must I .

³⁹Then with , and they to .

⁴⁰And and , and for and for the who were with him.

⁴¹And in the and him up to , and from there he a of the .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 22.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Balak's fear of Israel, He sends for Balaam. (1–14). Balaam goes to Balak. (15–21). The opposition to Balaam by the way. (22–35). Balaam and Balak meet. (36–41).

vv1-14

The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam was no stranger to Israel's cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returning Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing their own faults and follies.

vv15-21

A second embassy was sent to Balaam. It were well for us, if we were as earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstanding disappointments. Balak laid a bait, not only for Balaam's covetousness, but for his pride and ambition. How earnestly should we beg of God daily to mortify such desires in us! Thus sinners stick at no pains, spare no cost, and care not how low they stoop, to gratify their luxury, or their malice. Shall we then be unwilling to do what is right? God forbid! Balaam's convictions charged him to keep to the command of God; nor could any man have spoken better. But many call God theirs, who are not his, not truly because not only his. There is no judging men by their words; God knows the heart. Balaam's corruptions at the same time inclined him to go contrary to the command. He seemed to refuse the temptation; but he expressed no abhorrence of it. He had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might give him leave to go. He had already been told what the will of God was. It is a certain evidence of the ruling of corruption in the heart, to beg leave to sin. God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. As God sometimes denies the prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.

vv22-35

We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress in sinful ways. Balaam has notice of God's displeasure by the ass. It is common for those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil, to push on violently, through the difficulties Providence lays in their way. The Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle wrought by the power of God. He who made man speak, could, when he pleased, make the ass to speak with man's voice. The ass complained of Balaam's cruelty. The righteous God does not allow the meanest or weakest to be abused; but they shall be able to speak in their own defence, or he will some way or other speak for them. Balaam at length has his eyes opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and unhumbled heart. When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful ways, and how much it was for our advantage to be crossed. Balaam seemed to relent; I have sinned; but it does not appear that he was sensible of this wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it. If he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content, since there is no remedy, to go back. Thus many leave their sins, only because their sins have left them. The angel declared that he should not only be unable to curse Israel, but should be forced to bless them: this would be more for the glory of God, and to his own confusion, than if he had turned back.

Key Words

peopleH1121Hebrew

בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

IsraelH3478Hebrew

יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

set outH5265Hebrew

נָסַע: properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney

campedH2583Hebrew

חָנָה: properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege)

plainsH6160Hebrew

עֲרָבָה: a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea

MoabH4124Hebrew

מוֹאָב: Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants

beyondH5676Hebrew

עֵבֶר: properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; ususally meaning the east)

JordanH3383Hebrew

יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine

JerichoH3405Hebrew

יְרִיחוֹ: Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine

BalakH1111Hebrew

בָּלָק: Balak, a Moabitish king