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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 23:10

Numbers 23:10. Who can count the dust of Jacob? Who can count a people which is like the dust of the earth for number? Thus was God’s promise to Abraham. (Genesis 13:16.) I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, already fulfilled. The number of the fourth part of Israel Referring, probably, to the division of Israel into four camps, which lay now in his view, as if he had said, How vast is the number of this people, when even one of their camps is so numerous as to be almost past... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:1-30

Balaam’s announcements (22:36-24:25)Balak welcomed Balaam and took him to a high place where he could see the vastness of the Israelite camp. Balak no doubt hoped that Balaam, on seeing this, would be convinced that the Israelites were a serious threat and would put a destructive curse upon them (36-41). But Balaam announced God’s approval of the Israelites. Their vast number, their place in history and their present migration were according to God’s will. Balaam comforted himself with the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 23:7

curse. Hebrew. 'arar. See notes on Numbers 22:6 ; Numbers 22:11 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 23:8

How . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . curse = revile. Hebrew. nakab. GOD = Hebrew. 'El = the mighty God. See App-4 . cursed. Hebrew. kabab = to pierce with words. defy . . . defied. Hebrew. za'am = to be enraged with. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 23:9

not be reckoned. Therefore cannot be in the judgment of Matthew 25:0 , or confused with "the Gentiles, or with the church of God". 1 Corinthians 10:32 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 23:10

Who can count. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . the number of = Who can number? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). So with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint. The word "number" is thought by Ginsburg to be an abbreviation of two words = "Who can number? " me die = my soul die. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 . righteous = upright. To die the death of the righteous one must have the righteousness of the righteous. last end = latter end, i e. issue or reward. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Numbers 23:7

FIRST ORACLE"From Aram hath Balak brought me,The king of Moab from the mountains of the East:Come, curse me Jacob,And come, defy Israel.How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?For from the top of the rocks I see him,And from the hills I behold him:Lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone,And shall not be reckoned among the nations.Who can count the dust of Jacob,Or number the fourth part of Israel?Let me die the death of the righteous,And let... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:9

Numbers 23:9. For from the top of the rocks I see him, &c.— That is, from the top of the rocks on which he then stood: this, and the next expression, may relate not only to the present view he had of the camp of the Israelites, but to their future settlement in Canaan, wherein they were represented to his "mind's eye" as dwelling securely under the protection of the Almighty. The people shall dwell alone, says Hebrews 1:0.e. separated from other nations by peculiar laws, religion, and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:10

Numbers 23:10. Who can count the dust of Jacob? &c.— God promised to Abraham, first, that his posterity should inherit the land of Canaan; and secondly, that they should be as numerous as the dust of the earth, Genesis 13:15-16. Balaam confirms this double promise: the first part in the preceding verse, the second in this; where he speaks of the prodigious multiplication of the people. These words may regard the present state of the Israelites; but they principally respect the future. The... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:7

7. took up his parable—that is, spoke under the influence of inspiration, and in the highly poetical, figurative, and oracular style of a prophet. brought me from Aram—This word joined with "the mountains of the East," denotes the upper portion of Mesopotamia, lying on the east of Moab. The East enjoyed an infamous notoriety for magicians and soothsayers ( :-). read more

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