Numbers 24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:6

As the valleys are they spread forth ,.... Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Numbers 2:3 and this may denote the lowness of the saints and people of God in their own eyes, and their largeness in themselves; and especially when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets ,.... That is, God shall plentifully send down rain out of the clouds upon these valleys, gardens, and trees, and make them fruitful; and this may be a figure of the grace of God, with which his churches are watered, and become fruitful by means of the word and ordinances, which is conveyed through them out of the fulness which is in Christ: and his seed shall be in many waters ; the seed and offspring of Israel shall be in a place of many... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:8

God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn ,.... Here he repeats what he had said in a former prophecy; see Gill on Numbers 23:22 , he shall eat up the nations his enemies: the seven nations of Canaan, which should be subdued by Israel, and that with as much ease as a lion devours its prey; nor would the Canaanites be able to make any more resistance to them than a creature in the paws of a lion; and the phrase denotes the utter destruction of them: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:9

He couched ,.... Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab: he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion ; as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself down and sleeps without concern anywhere: who shall stir him up ? who dare do it? as it would be a very rash, bold, daring, and dangerous... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:10

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam ,.... He had bore much and long, but he could bear no longer, he was quite impatient, his last words more especially must exceedingly nettle him: and he smote his hands together ; as expressive of his indignation, vexation, and disappointment: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies ; he had sent princes to him, one set of them after another, to invite him into his country, and to his court, with great promises of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place ,.... His own country, from whence Balak had sent for him, and he came; begone directly, make all haste away; he speaks as one so provoked, that he could not bear him in his presence, and as threatening him if he did not at once get out of his sight: I thought to promote thee unto great honour ; to bestow much wealth and riches upon him, and to prefer him in his court to high offices of honour and dignity; he had promised that he would, and he thought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:12

And Balaam said unto Balak ,.... In order to mitigate his wrath, and bring him into a better temper: spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me : those that came to him a second time; for to the first he said nothing of what is after related, but to the last he did much the same as he had afterwards said to Balak himself: saying, read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:13

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold ,.... Which are the very words he said to the princes of Moab, Numbers 22:18 , I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad ; for though here it is the "commandment", and there the "word" of the Lord, yet it is the same word in both places in the original text: indeed, here he omits the relation to the Lord he there claims, saying "my God"; and instead of "little or great", here it is "good or bad",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:14

And now, behold, I go unto my people ,.... According to thine order, I shall not stay to make thee uneasy with my company, only I crave thy patience to hear me a little before we part: come therefore, and I will advertise thee ; about some things that shall come to pass in future time, respecting this people, and thine, and other nations, both near and remote; and he hoped by this to bring him into a better temper, and part good friends: or "I will counsel thee"; what thou shall do, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:15-16

And he took up his parable, and said ,.... In this and the following verse; the same preface, in the same words, is made to his prophecy as before; see Gill on Numbers 24:3 , Numbers 24:4 ; only one clause is added, "and knew the knowledge of the Most High"; that Balaam had some knowledge of God is certain from the names by which he calls him, being such that he made himself known by to the patriarchs, and by which he is frequently called in the sacred writings; but then this knowledge... read more

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