民数記 23:13-24 JCB

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:22

God brought them out of Egypt ,.... With a mighty hand and stretched out arm, and he will conduct them through the wilderness, and bring them safe to Canaan's land; he that brought them from thence will not suffer them to perish by any means; it is in vain to attempt to curse a people that is in such hands, and for whom he has done such great things: Jarchi thinks this stands opposed to what Balak had said, Numbers 22:5 , thou sayest, "lo, a people is come out of Egypt";"they did not come... read more

John Gill

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

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel ,.... Balaam here owns, that all his enchantments and divinations signified nothing, and would never prevail to bring a curse upon Israel; it was a vain thing for him to use them, and as vain for Balak to expect anything from them; neither he nor any other enchanter and soothsayer, using all the arts they are masters of, could ever do any hurt to such a people, who were the peculiar care of God, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:24

Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion ,.... Or rather, "as the lioness" F14 כלביא "ut leaena", V. L. Tigurine version. , which, as Aelianus says F15 Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 39. Vid. Herodot. Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 108. , is the strongest and most warlike beast, the most fierce and furious, as is believed both by Greeks and Barbarians; and he mentions the heroism of Perdiccas the Macedonian, and Semiramis the Assyrian, in engaging with and killing, not the lion or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:13

Thou shalt see but the utmost part of them - Balak thought that the sight of such an immense camp had intimidated Balaam, and this he might gather from what he said in the tenth verse: Who can count the dust of Jacob, etc.; he thought therefore that he might get Balaam to curse them in detached parties, till the whole camp should be devoted to destruction by successive execrations. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:17

What hath the Lord spoken? - Balak himself now understood that Balaam was wholly under the influence of Jehovah, and would say nothing but what God commanded him; but not knowing Jehovah as Balaam did, he hoped that he might be induced to change his mind, and curse a people whom he had hitherto determined to bless. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that he should lie - This seems to be spoken to correct the foregoing supposition of Balak that God could change his mind. Even the heathen would not allow that their supreme god could be caught in a falsity. Hence Aeschylus, in Prometh. vinct. 1068: - Ψευδηγορειν γαρ ουκ επισταται στομαπ Το Διον, αλλα παν επος τελει . "The mouth of Jove knows not to frame a lie; But every word finds full accomplishment." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:21

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel - This is a difficult passage; for if we take the words as spoken of the people Israel, as their iniquity and their perverseness were almost unparalleled, such words cannot be spoken of them with strict truth. If we consider them as spoken of the patriarch Jacob and Israel, or of Jacob after he became Israel, they are most strictly true, as after that time a more unblemished and noble character (Abraham... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

The strength of a unicorn - ראם reem and ראים reim . It is generally allowed that there is no such beast in nature as the unicorn; i. e., a creature of the horse kind, with one long rich curled horn in the forehead. The creature painted from fancy is represented as one of the supporters of the royal arms of Great Britain. It is difficult to say what kind of beast is intended by the original word. The Septuagint translate the word μονοκερως , the unicorn, or one-horned animal; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:23

There is no enchantment, etc. - Because God has determined to save them, therefore no enchantment can prevail against them. According to this time, etc. - I think this clause should be read thus: "As at this time it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God worketh;" i. e., this people shall always have prophetic information of what God is about to work. And indeed, they are the only people under heaven who ever had this privilege. When God himself designed to punish them because of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:24

Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion - לביא labi , the great, mighty, or old lion, the king of the forest, who is feared and respected by all the other beasts of the field; so shall Israel be the subduer and possessor of the whole land of Canaan. And as a young lion, ארי ari from ארה arah , to tear off, the predatory lion, or the lion in the act of seizing and tearing his prey; - the nations against whom the Israelites are now going shall be no more able to defend... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:22

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:24

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