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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 23:13-30

Here is, I. Preparation made the second time, as before, for the cursing of Israel. 1. The place is changed, Num. 23:13. Balak fancied that Balaam, having so full a prospect of the whole camp of Israel, from the top of the rocks (Num. 23:9), was either so enamoured with the beauty of it that he would not curse them or so affrighted with the terror of it that he durst not; and therefore he would bring him to another place, form which he might see only some part of them, which would appear more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:13

And Balak said unto him ,.... Seemingly satisfied with his answer, however, he could not help himself, and was willing to make the best of him he could, and try what he could do with him another time and elsewhere: come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them ; for he had a mighty notion that both the sight of the people, and the place from whence they were seen, would greatly contribute to answer the end he had in view, cursing the people: thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:14

And he brought him into the field of Zophim ,.... Or Sede Tzophim, as Hillerus F9 Onomastic Sacr. p. 935. reads it, so called from the watch tower, and watchmen in it: Jarchi says, it was a high place, where a watchman stood to observe if an army came against a city, and so a very proper place to take a view of the armies of Israel from: to the top of Pisgah ; a high hill in this place, where perhaps the watch tower was, or, however, the watchman stood: this looked towards Jeshimon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:15

And he said unto Balak, stand here by thy burnt offering ,.... As he had before directed him, Numbers 23:3 . while I meet the Lord yonder ; pointing to some place at a little distance, where he expected to meet the Lord, and have some instructions from him, which he seemed confident of, having met with him once already. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:16

And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth ,.... As he did before, Numbers 23:5 . and said, go again unto Balak, and say thus ; the words which are expressed in Numbers 23:18 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:17

And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering ,.... As before; Numbers 23:6 and the princes of Moab with him; Jarchi observes, that before it is said, all the princes of Moab, but not so here; for when they saw there was no hope of succeeding, some of them went away, and only some were left: and Balak said unto him, what hath the Lord spoken ? being in haste to know what it was, whether agreeable or not. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:18

And he took up his parable ,.... Pronounced the word put into his mouth: and said, rise up Balak, and hear ; not from his seat, as Eglon a successor of his did, Judges 3:20 for he was now standing by his burnt offering; but the sense is, that he would raise his attention, and stir up himself with all diligence to hear what he was about to say: hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor ; or to his word, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, which follow. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that he should lie ,.... Man is a creature consisting of a body of flesh and blood, and of a soul, a created and finite spirit; but God, though he has the parts of an human body ascribed to him in a figurative sense, yet is not to be conceived of in a corporeal manner; and though he is a Spirit, yet eternal, immense, and infinite; and much less is as a sinful man, who goes astray from the womb speaking lies; no, let God be true, and every man a liar: he is God, that cannot... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:20

Behold, I have received commandment to bless ,.... The people of Israel, to pronounce a blessing upon them, to declare them a happy people: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it ; God has blessed them, has determined to bless them, has promised to bless them, has blessed them in the victories he has given them, and will complete the blessing of them, by bringing them into the land he has given them: so the blessings which God has designed for his spiritual Israel, and bestows... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:21

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel ,.... Not that there was no sin in them, nor any observed by the Lord; yet not so as to mark it in strict justice, and punish for it; but he forgave it, hid his face from it, and did not impute it to them; all the three Targums restrain it to idolatry, that there were none among them that worshipped idols, which was the reason why the Lord could not be prevailed upon to curse them: and Aben Ezra observes, that... read more

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