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James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:1-30

BALAAM AND HIS PROPHECIES THE HISTORICAL SETTING (Numbers 22:0 ) In what neighborhood are the Israelites now camped (Numbers 22:1 )? Where is this located? Who was the king of this people (Numbers 22:4 )? What effect on him was wrought by Israel’s victories over his neighbors (Numbers 22:2-4 )? What plan of defense other than war does he adopt (Numbers 22:5-6 )? Balaam’s History and Character Balaam is a mystery. He comes from Mesopotamia where the knowledge of the true God lingered... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Numbers 23:1-30

Balaam's Vision of the Church Numbers 22-24 Let Israel, as gathered within sight of Moab, be regarded as representing the Church of the living God: let Balak, king of Moab, be regarded as representing all the forces which encounter the Church of the living God with suspicion or hostility: let Balaam be regarded as the prophet of the Lord standing between the Church and the kingdoms of heathenism, and declaring the divine purpose, and dwelling in sacred and rapturous eloquence upon the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1-10

1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Numbers 23:1-65

Num_23:1 Num_26:65 . The last verse of chapter 22 shed light upon the evil power that animated Moab and Balak their king. They had in their midst the "high places of Baal." So when in the first verse of our chapter we read that Balaam said, "Build me here seven altars," we at once see that this man, who professed himself to be a prophet of the Lord, was really in league with the powers of darkness. When in conflict with Baal, Elijah repaired the one altar of the Lord that was broken down, and... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Numbers 23:1-13

The First Sacrifice and Prophetic Utterance. v. 1. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams, namely, one animal of either group for each altar. Balaam here presumed upon a show of authority which he did not possess, and he dedicated his sacrifices to Jehovah, although they were offered on a place consecrated to the loathsome idol of the heathen. His idea apparently was to gain the favor of the Lord by the rich offering and cause Him... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 23:1-10

E.—THE FIRST BLESSING OF BALLAMNumbers 22:41 to Numbers 23:10Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 23:1-30

FIFTH DIVISIONISRAEL’S FINAL PREPARATION DURING ITS RESIDENCE IN THE PLAINS (STEPPES) OF MOABNumbers 22-36FIRST SECTIONBalak and Balaam, or the Curse as a Weapon against Israel FrustratedNumbers 22:2 to Numbers 24:25Survey: a. Balak’s resort to Balaam, Numbers 22:2-7. b. Balaam’s formal, but heartless opposition, Numbers 22:8-14. c. Balak’s’s second attempt, Balaam’s irresolution, and the beginning of God’s judgment upon him in the permission of the journey, Numbers 22:15-21. d. Balaam’s... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 23:1-12

a Blessing instead of a Curse Numbers 22:41 ; Numbers 23:1-12 Notice the position of these chapters, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such terrible sins that it might seem impossible for God to continue to acknowledge them; yet here God stands for them and restrains the spirit of evil. He will take their chastisement, when needed, into his own hands. With all his might Balaam strove to earn the royal gifts. Ah, thought he, that I could... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:1-30

The first of Balaam's prophecies was uttered in the midst of strange surroundings. Sacrifices were offered to heathen gods, while Balaam turned aside to inquire of Jehovah. The result was that we have in his prophesying the first of a series of utterances concerning Israel which are among the most sublime in the whole of Scripture. In this first we have a central declaration, Lo, it is a people that dwell alone. It constitutes a vision of the nation as separated from others because of the... read more

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