Numbers 23:19 NIV

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Numbers 23:1-65

Num_23:1 Num_26:65 . The last verse of chapter 22 shed light upon the evil power that animated Moab and Balak their king. They had in their midst the "high places of Baal." So when in the first verse of our chapter we read that Balaam said, "Build me here seven altars," we at once see that this man, who professed himself to be a prophet of the Lord, was really in league with the powers of darkness. When in conflict with Baal, Elijah repaired the one altar of the Lord that was broken down, and... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Numbers 23:14-30

The Second Sacrifice and Prophetic Utterance. v. 14. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, to a high plateau of the mountain range which overlooks the Plains of Moab, and built seven altars, as before, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. v. 15. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, maintaining the position of the devout worshiper praying for the fulfillment of his desire, while I meet the Lord yonder, for the purpose of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 23:1-30

FIFTH DIVISIONISRAEL’S FINAL PREPARATION DURING ITS RESIDENCE IN THE PLAINS (STEPPES) OF MOABNumbers 22-36FIRST SECTIONBalak and Balaam, or the Curse as a Weapon against Israel FrustratedNumbers 22:2 to Numbers 24:25Survey: a. Balak’s resort to Balaam, Numbers 22:2-7. b. Balaam’s formal, but heartless opposition, Numbers 22:8-14. c. Balak’s’s second attempt, Balaam’s irresolution, and the beginning of God’s judgment upon him in the permission of the journey, Numbers 22:15-21. d. Balaam’s... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 23:11-24

F.—THE SECOND BLESSINGNumbers 23:11-2411And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth? 13And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.14And he... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 23:13-30

No Enchantment against Israel Numbers 23:13-30 Balak was surprised and disappointed. He therefore bethought himself of limiting the seer’s vision, so that he might see an attenuated Israel from a height that commanded only a partial view of the camp. How often we try to see only what we want to see! How often we shut our eyes to a rival’s real merits! Instead of entering into God’s great thoughts we shut ourselves up in a tiny limited world. We will not acknowledge what our pride does not... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:1-30

The first of Balaam's prophecies was uttered in the midst of strange surroundings. Sacrifices were offered to heathen gods, while Balaam turned aside to inquire of Jehovah. The result was that we have in his prophesying the first of a series of utterances concerning Israel which are among the most sublime in the whole of Scripture. In this first we have a central declaration, Lo, it is a people that dwell alone. It constitutes a vision of the nation as separated from others because of the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:18-26

Numbers 23:18-24 (18a-24) ‘And he took up his incantation (parable),’ Once again Balaam gave out his incantation. Note even here the chiastic construction. Numbers 23:18-24 (18b-24) “Rise up, Balak, and hear; Listen to me, you son of Zippor, a God is not a man, that he should lie, a Nor the son of man, that he should repent, a Has he said, and will he not do it? a Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good? b Behold, I have received commandment to bless, b And he has blessed,... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:18-24

Numbers 23:18-Jeremiah : . Balaam’ s Second Oracle.— This goes beyond the preceding in frustrating the hopes of Balak, for it declares that God has not only not cursed Israel, but has positively blessed it, and describes Israel’ s freedom from adversity and its formidable strength. Numbers 23:19 . Cf. 1 Samuel 15:29 Numbers 23:20 . he hath blessed, etc.: read (LXX), “ I must bless and I must not reverse it.” Numbers 23:21 . He hath not beheld, etc.: read (Syr.), “ I have not beheld... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:19

That he should lie, i.e. break his faith and promises made to his people for their preservation and benediction. That he should repent, . e. change his counsels or purposes; which men do, either because they are not able to execute them, or because they are better informed and their minds changed by some unexpected occurrent, or by their lusts and passions, none of which have place in God. And therefore I plainly see that all our endeavours and repeated sacrifices are to no purpose, and can... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Numbers 23:1-30

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESNumbers 23:1. Build me here seven altars. “As seven was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice, and to offer a bullock and a ram upon each of the altars; the whole to be made a burnt offering at the same time. And as he intended to offer seven bullocks and seven rams at the same time, it could not be conveniently done on one altar, therefore he ordered seven to be built.”—A. Clarke LL.D.The offerings... read more