Numbers 22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:5

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor ,.... In consequence of the consultation held by the king of Moab with the elders of Midian; and very probably through a motion of theirs, and by advice they gave, Balak dispatched messengers of both people to the person here described by his name and parentage; but who he was is not easy to say: the Jews sometimes make him to be a magician in Pharaoh's court, at the time when Moses was born F26 Dibre Hayamim Shekmoaseh, fol. 3. 2.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:6

Come now, therefore, I pray thee ,.... To my country, city, and court: curse me this people ; by imprecations on them; and which being attended with various rites and ceremonies, brought calamities on persons, which men of Balaam's character were supposed to have power to do: for they are too mighty for me ; to oppose and subdue by force of arms; and therefore was obliged to have recourse to such arts and methods he was master of; suggesting, that he was able to do more by his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:7

And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Midian, departed ,.... By which it appears that they were princes and nobles; for such the elders were, that were sent on this errand to Balaam; and that they were some of both people, Midian and Moab, that went upon it, see Numbers 22:14 which shows, that if they were not one people, under one king, which yet seems likely, nevertheless they made a common cause of it, and joined in this expedient to save their country: with the rewards of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:8

And he said unto them, lodge here this night ,.... Which shows that he was at once inclined to do their business for them, and would readily engage in it if he could be permitted; and it looks as if it was in the night season that he got knowledge of things, either in dreams, or by familiar spirits, or by consulting the stars, or other methods used by him at such seasons; or it may be, this was only said to get time before he gave them a peremptory answer, that he might, if he could, get... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:9

And God came unto Balaam ,.... In a dream very probably, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Genesis 20:3 , and said, what men are these with thee ? who lodged with him that night. This he said, not as ignorant who they were, or from whence they came, or what they came about; but in order to lead on to a discourse with Balaam, and to have from him the account of the men, and their business, and to try his fidelity in relating the affair. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:10

And Balaam said unto God ,.... In answer to the question he put to him: Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me ; these men, and a message by them: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:11

Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt ,.... In this, and the following part of the verse, he faithfully and punctually relates the words of Balak to him by his messengers, as well knowing he could not deceive the omniscient God, or hide anything from him, though he could deceive men; and conceal the truth from them, to serve a purpose; See Gill on Numbers 22:5 , Numbers 22:6 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:12

And God said unto Balaam, thou shalt not go with them ,.... Which is a denial of the first thing Balak requested, "come now, therefore", &c.; Numbers 22:6 . thou shall not curse the people ; which was the principal thing desired, and in order to which he was solicited to go with the messengers; but this is absolutely forbidden: for they are blessed ; by the Lord himself, with an irrevocable blessing, and therefore it would be vain and fruitless, as well as dangerous for him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:13

And Balaam rose up in the morning ,.... With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it: and said unto the princes of Balak ; which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian: get you into your land ; as soon as you can; set forward on your journey, it is to no purpose to stay here: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you ; he only relates... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:14

And the princes of Moab rose up ,.... And the princes of Midian also, immediately, without entering into a parley with him, to persuade him to go with them; perceiving by his answer that it would be to no purpose, and that he was determined to do as the Lord directed him: and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us ; as Balaam told them less than what God had said to him, so they related less to Balak than what Balaam had said to them; saying nothing of the Lord's... read more

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