Numbers 23:12-13. Must I not Ought I not? Is it not my duty? Canst thou blame me for it? Thou shalt not see them all Perhaps he thought the sight of all of them might discourage him, or, as it did before, raise his fancy to an admiration of the multitude and felicity of the people. read more
Numbers 23:15. While I meet the Lord To consult him and receive an answer from him, if peradventure these renewed sacrifices will prevail with him to comply with our desires. read more
Numbers 23:18. Rise up, Balak In these words Balaam calls on the king to receive the message of the great God with reverence and diligent attention; as if he had said, Rouse up thyself and carefully mind what I say. read more
Numbers 23:19. That he should lie Break his promise made to his people for their preservation and benediction. Neither the son of man that he should repent Change his counsels or purposes, as men change theirs, either because they are not able to execute them, or because they are better informed, or their minds are changed by some unexpected occurrence, or by their passions, none of which things have place in God. When the inspired writers speak of God’s repenting, as Jeremiah 18:8, and... read more
Numbers 23:21. Iniquity in Jacob Not such as in the Canaanites: such as he will punish with a curse, with utter destruction. The Lord is with him He hath a favour for this people, and will defend and save them. The shout of a king That is, such joyful and triumphant shouts as those wherewith a people congratulate the approach and presence of their king, when he appears among them upon some solemn occasion, or when he returns from battle with victory. This expression implies God’s being... read more
Numbers 23:22. Out of Egypt Namely, by a strong hand, and in spite of all their enemies, and therefore it is in vain to seek or hope to overcome them. He hath the strength of a unicorn He, Israel, whom God brought out of Egypt, such change of numbers being very common in the Hebrew language. The sense is, Israel is not now what he was in Egypt, a poor, weak, dispirited, unarmed people, but high, and strong, and invincible. The only difficulty is, what creature is here meant by ראם , ... read more
Numbers 23:23. No enchantment against Jacob Nor against any that truly believe in Christ! What hath God wrought! How wonderful and glorious are those works which God is now about to do for Israel! These things will be a matter of discourse and admiration to all ages. read more
Numbers 23:24. As a great lion As a lion rouseth up himself to fight, or to go out to the prey, so shall Israel stir up themselves to warlike attempts against their enemies. He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey They shall not lay down their arms until they have made an entire conquest of their enemies; just as the lion, risen up to pursue his prey, doth not usually lie down till he hath taken that prey, and drunk the blood of the beasts he has slain. The prophecy seems to have a... read more
Numbers 23:28. Unto the top of Peor The most famous high-place in all the country of Moab, where, as Seiden conjectures, Baal had a temple, called Beth-peor, or the house of Peor, (Deuteronomy 3:29,) and was therefore named Baal-peor. Balak seems to have chosen this place in hope that, being the residence, as he fancied, of Baal, the god of Moab, the God of Israel would not or could not come thither to hinder the operation; or that, being a place acceptable to his god, it must be so... read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 23:10
Numbers 23:10. Who can count the dust of Jacob? Who can count a people which is like the dust of the earth for number? Thus was God’s promise to Abraham. (Genesis 13:16.) I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, already fulfilled. The number of the fourth part of Israel Referring, probably, to the division of Israel into four camps, which lay now in his view, as if he had said, How vast is the number of this people, when even one of their camps is so numerous as to be almost past... read more