Numbers 23

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:18

Numbers 23:18. Rise up, Balak, and hear, &c.— The repetitions are of the most noble and sublime kind; and this introduction to his discourse, full of fire and grandeur, was truly worthy of a prophet actually charged to pronounce the oracles of a God, in whose presence kings and nations themselves are nothing. Balaam could not demand of Balak an attention full of respect for the oracles of God with more dignity. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:19

Numbers 23:19. God is not a man— The prophet is here compelled, in the strongest manner, to proclaim his own folly, and the vain expectation of the king of Moab; asserting, that it is not to be imagined that the high God is subject to the uncertain humours and fluctuating passions of weak mortals; or that he can be induced by sacrifices, by prayers, or by any other means, to break his word, or falsify his promise. Respecting God's repenting, see the note on Genesis 6:6. They must be extremely... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:21

Numbers 23:21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, &c.— One shall not behold affliction in Jacob, nor see vexation in Israel. Waterland. Houbigant renders this, I shall not see iniquity, &c. The words will certainly bear the interpretation which Dr. Waterland has given them, and which some of the versions countenance. That our translation cannot be right, is evident from the character of the Israelites, prone to all kinds of wickedness, and to idolatry in particular: so that those... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:22

Numbers 23:22. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath, &c.— The alteration of the numbers in our translation renders the meaning sometimes perplexed. It would be better to read the foregoing verse as above; and the present, God brought them out of Egypt; their strength is as the strength of the unicorn. Concerning the unicorn, see the note on the 8th verse of the next chapter. The first clause, God brought them out of Egypt, is applied by St. Matthew to Jesus Christ. See Matthew 2:15. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:23

Numbers 23:23. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, &c.— Here the prophet bursts forth in a noble rapture, and declares to Balak, and the nobles around, that all their impious machinations were in vain against a people whom the Lord had determined to bless. So in Proverbs, ch. Num 21:30 it is said, There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor council against the Lord. Houbigant renders the last clause, In its time it shall be told, what the God of Jacob and Israel may do, or be about... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:27

Numbers 23:27. I will bring thee unto another place— As the Syrians imagined that some gods were powerful in the hills, who could do nothing in the plains, 1 Kings 20:23; 1Ki 20:28 so it seems there was such a conceit at this time in these countries, that some gods had more power on one hill than on another. The idea of local deities was very general. Thus Balak might imagine that his God had hitherto been withheld by the gods of Israel from granting his desire, but might be more powerful in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:28

Numbers 23:28. Unto the top of Peor— Which was the most famous high place in all the country of Moab; and where, Selden conjectures, Baal had a temple, and was thence called Baal-peor; just as Jupiter, worshipped at Olympus, was called Jupiter Olympius. See Deuteronomy 34:6. REFLECTIONS.—Balak is now quite dispirited with his attempts. Fain would he compound the matter, that Balaam shall neither bless nor curse, whilst he owns the impulse he is under, which he is unable to controul. God's... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23

CHAPTER 23 :-. BALAK'S SACRIFICES. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:1

1. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars—Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from :- that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2 Kings 18:22; Isaiah 17:8; Jeremiah 11:13; Hosea 8:11; Hosea 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:3

3. Stand by thy burnt offering—as one in expectation of an important favor. peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me—that is, makes known to me by word or sign. he went to an high place—apart by himself, where he might practise rites and ceremonies, with a view to obtain a response of the oracle. read more

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