Numbers 23-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:7

And he took up his parable, and said ,.... Pronounced the word, the prophetic word, which God had put into his mouth; so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem call it, the parable of his prophecy; so called, because, in prophecies, often figurative and enigmatical expressions are used, and also sententious and weighty ones, either of which are sometimes called parables; see Psalm 78:2 , Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram ; or Syria, that is, from Mesopotamia, as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed ?.... The sense is, that it was impossible for him to curse those that God did not curse himself, or would not have cursed by others; not but that he had a good will to it, to get Balak's money and honour, but he knew not how to accomplish it; yea, he saw it was in vain to attempt it, it was a thing that could not possibly be done: God does not, nor will he curse his spiritual Israel; they are blessed by him in Christ, and they shall be blessed; nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:9

For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him ,.... That is, Israel in their camps; Balaam being at this time on the top of a rock, or on an high hill, from whence he had a view of Israel, encamped in the plains of Moab below him: lo, the people shall dwell alone ; this certainly respects their dwelling in the land of Canaan, where they dwelt a separate people from all others, distinguished by their language, religion, laws, customs, and manner of living, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Who can count, the dust of Jacob ,.... The people of Israel, their posterity so called, not because of their original, the dust of the earth, but because of their numbers, being as numerous as the dust of the earth, or sand of the sea, as it was promised they should be, Genesis 28:14 and which is here confirmed by the prophecy of Balaam: and the number of the fourth part of Israel ; one of the four camps of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; for this people was divided... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:11

And Balak said unto Balaam, what hast thou done unto me ?.... Or "for me" F6 לי "pro me". ; nothing at all, to answer his purpose, or his end in sending for him: I took thee to curse mine enemies : so he calls the Israelites, though they had never done him any wrong; nor committed any acts of hostility against him, nor showed any intention to commit any; nay, were forbidden by the Lord their God to contend in battle with him and his people: and, behold, thou hast blessed them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:12

And he answered and said ,.... By reply to Balak: must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth ? pretending a great regard to the word of God, and to great carefulness to speak it, exactly and punctually as he received it, whereas he was forced to it, and could not do otherwise. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:13

And Balak said unto him ,.... Seemingly satisfied with his answer, however, he could not help himself, and was willing to make the best of him he could, and try what he could do with him another time and elsewhere: come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them ; for he had a mighty notion that both the sight of the people, and the place from whence they were seen, would greatly contribute to answer the end he had in view, cursing the people: thou... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:14

And he brought him into the field of Zophim ,.... Or Sede Tzophim, as Hillerus F9 Onomastic Sacr. p. 935. reads it, so called from the watch tower, and watchmen in it: Jarchi says, it was a high place, where a watchman stood to observe if an army came against a city, and so a very proper place to take a view of the armies of Israel from: to the top of Pisgah ; a high hill in this place, where perhaps the watch tower was, or, however, the watchman stood: this looked towards Jeshimon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:15

And he said unto Balak, stand here by thy burnt offering ,.... As he had before directed him, Numbers 23:3 . while I meet the Lord yonder ; pointing to some place at a little distance, where he expected to meet the Lord, and have some instructions from him, which he seemed confident of, having met with him once already. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:16

And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth ,.... As he did before, Numbers 23:5 . and said, go again unto Balak, and say thus ; the words which are expressed in Numbers 23:18 . read more

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