Numbers 22:7-24

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:15

And Balak sent yet again princes more, and more honourable than they. More in number, and greater in quality, princes of the first rank in his court; supposing that Balaam thought he was not treated with respect enough, they being princes of the meaner sort, and but few, that were sent unto him before, which he imagined was the reason, at least one reason, why he refused to come with them; persons of Balaam's character in those days being highly revered. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:16

And they came to Balaam ,.... Though men of such rank and dignity, they did not decline the embassy, being sent by their king; nor did they think it below them to wait upon this soothsayer: and said unto him, thus saith Balak the son of Zippor ; representing their master, and addressing the diviner in his name, as his ambassadors; at the same time doing honour to Balak that sent them, of whom they speak respectfully, and to Balaam, to whom they were sent: let nothing, I pray thee,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:17

For I will promote thee unto very great honour ,.... In his court, by making him some great officer there, perhaps his prime minister; so that as before he laid a bait for his covetousness, sending him large presents, and rewards of divination; here, for his pride and ambition, promising him court preferment; though Aben Ezra interprets it of mammon or riches, of which he could give him an immense sum: "in honouring I will exceedingly honour thee" F6 כבד אכבדך מאד "honorando... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:18

And Balaam answered, and said unto the servant's of Balak ,.... Who were not only princes of the land, but officers of state in the court of Balak: if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more ; which is well spoken, had it been from his heart: he speaks very respectfully of God, calling him by his great and incommunicable name Jehovah, the Being of beings; representing him as the object of his worship and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:19

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night ,.... As the former messengers had; this shows his strong inclination to go along with them, and do what was desired of him, could he be permitted; otherwise he might and ought to have told the messengers at once that Balak needed not to have given himself and them so much trouble, since it was not in his power to do for him what he requested; nor would he attempt it, as being contrary to the will of God, and therefore it would be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:20

And the Lord came unto Balaam at night ,.... As before, Numbers 22:9 it may be in a dream; the Targum of Jonathan is as there,"a word came from the Lord:" and said unto him, if the men come and call thee, rise up, and go with them ; this was said, as some think, not seriously, but sarcastically, or rather in an angry manner, bidding him go, if he would; so giving him up to his own heart's lusts, or, at most; only permitting him to go with them, but not to curse Israel; and this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:21

And Balaam rose up in the morning ,.... Early, not waiting for the call of the princes, which showed how eager he was to be gone, and how intent upon the journey: and saddled his ass ; which, if he did himself, as Jarchi suggests, this is a further proof of the haste he was in; though, as he had two servants with him, it is more likely that they did it by his order: the same is said of Abraham, Genesis 22:3 , it was usual for persons of note and figure, in those times and countries, to... read more

John Gill

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

And God's anger was kindled because he went ,.... Though he had given him leave to go; but then it was upon condition that the princes called him to go with them, whereas he went without their call, and did not wait for it; and besides, he did not acquaint them, as he did not the messengers before, of what God had said, that he should not curse Israel, nor say anything contrary to this his will, which, had he told them, they would not have taken him with them; moreover, he went with an... read more

John Gill

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

And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way ,.... Which Balaam did not; his eyes being held from seeing him by the power and providence of God, that he might be reproved and rebuked by his ass, to whom God gave power to see, more than to him, as Jarchi notes, so that he had little reason to boast of his visions and revelations, and that he was the man whose eyes were open: the angel stood in the very pathway on which the ass was carrying Balaam: and his sword drawn in his hand;... read more

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