民数記 23:13-24 JCB

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:13

Verse 13 13.And Balac said unto him. Balak did, as almost all superstitious persons usually do; for, because with them nothing is certain or established, they are carried about from one speculation to another, and try now this and now that expedient. But especially do they imagine that there is some magical power in the sight, as if the eyes contributed partly to the efficacy of their incantations. It appears from profane writers that this was formerly a commonly received opinion, that the gaze... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:17

Verse 17 17.And when he came to him. Balak inquires what God had answered, although he had rejected the previous revelation. Thus do hypocrites profess anxious solicitude in inquiring the will of God, whilst the knowledge of it is intolerable to them. Therefore their extreme earnestness in inquiry is nothing but mere dissimulation. Besides, Balak hunts, as it were, for the answer of God by a distant divination, whereas a testimony to God’s will was all the time engraven upon his heart. But this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:18

Verse 18 18.And he took up his parable and said. We have already explained the meaning of this expression, namely, to make use of glowing and elevated language, in order the more to awaken the attention of the hearer. The same also is the object of the preface, “Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor;” for such repetitions are mostly emphatic, and indicate something uncommon. When he declares that “God cannot lie, because he is not like men,” it is a severe kind of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:20

Verse 20 20.Behold I have received commandment to bless. He signifies that a command to bless had been given him, antl a positive law laid down for him. For, as has been said, he was not free and independent in this matter; but God had bound him to exercise the prophetic office, even against his own will. Hence he declares that it is not in his power to alter the revelation, of which he is the minister and witness. But there is a remarkable expression introduced in the midst of his declaration,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:21

Verse 21 21.He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob. Some understand by און, aven, עמל , gnamal, idols, (161) which bring nothing but deadly labor and trouble to their worshippers; as if it were said that Israel was pure and untainted by such offenses, in that they duly served the one true God. But how will it be correct to say that God saw not idolatry in the people, when they had so openly fallen into it? For, although the golden calf was only made on one occasion, still their manifold and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

Verse 22 22.God brouqht them out of Egypt. He assigns a reason for their constant success, i.e., because God has once redeemed this people, He will not forsake the work which He has begun. The argument is drawn from the continued course of God’s blessings; for, since they flow from an inexhaustible fountain, their progress is incessant. This, however, specially refers to the state of the Church, for He will never cease to be gracious to His children, until He has led them to the very end of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:23

Verse 23 23.Surely there is no enchantment. This passage is commonly expounded as an encomium on the people, because they are not given to enchantments and magical superstitions, as God also had strictly enjoined upon them in His law that they should not pollute themselves by such defilements. Others thus explain it, The Israelites shall not want enchanters, because by the Urim and Thummim, or by the Prophets, God would reveal to them whatever should be profitable for them. Their opinion is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:24

Verse 24 24.Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion. This comparison is not in every respect accurate; for it does not signify that the Israelites should be cruel or rapacious, but merely bold and strong, and prompt in their resistance if any should provoke them. In the next chapter, it will occur again with a slight change in the words. What Balaam here predicates generally of the whole people, is applied in the blessings of Jacob to the tribe of Judah alone, (Genesis 49:9,) because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:13

Come … unto another place. Balak attributed the miscarriage of his enterprise thus far to something inauspicious in the locality. Thou shalt see but the utmost part of them. אֶפֶס קָצֶהוּ תִרְאֶה . Both the meaning of the nouns and the tense of the verb are disputed. By some "ephes katsehu" (the end of the last of them) is held equivalent to "the whole of them," which seems to contradict the next clause even if defensible in itself. The ordinary rendering is favoured by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:14

The field of Zophim, i.e; of the watchers. Probably a well-known outlook. To the top of Pisgah. They followed apparently on the track of their enemies (see on Numbers 21:20 ). read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:14

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