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John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Numbers 23:7

23:7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, [saying], Come, curse me Jacob, and come, {d} defy Israel.(d) Cause everyone to hate and detest them. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Numbers 23:9

23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the {e} nations.(e) But shall have religion and laws apart. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Numbers 23:10

23:10 Who can count the {f} dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth [part] of Israel? Let me {g} die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!(f) The infinite multitude, as the dust of the earth.(g) The fear of God’s judgment caused him to wish to be joined to the household of Abraham: thus the wicked have their consciences wounded when they consider God’s judgments. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1-30

BALAAM'S FIRST PROPHECY (vs.1-12) THE SANCTIFICATION OF ISRAEL Chapter 22:41 tells us that Balak brought Balaam to the high places of Baal in order to prophecy against Israel. Here he observed only "a portion of the people" (NASB), for Balak wanted to give Balaam the impression that Israel was not a large nation so he might more safely curse them. Balaam exposed his idolatrous character immediately by asking Balak to build seven altars, offering on each one a bull and a ram. God allowed... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:1-30

BALAAM AND HIS PROPHECIES THE HISTORICAL SETTING (Numbers 22:0 ) In what neighborhood are the Israelites now camped (Numbers 22:1 )? Where is this located? Who was the king of this people (Numbers 22:4 )? What effect on him was wrought by Israel’s victories over his neighbors (Numbers 22:2-4 )? What plan of defense other than war does he adopt (Numbers 22:5-6 )? Balaam’s History and Character Balaam is a mystery. He comes from Mesopotamia where the knowledge of the true God lingered... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Numbers 23:1-30

Balaam's Vision of the Church Numbers 22-24 Let Israel, as gathered within sight of Moab, be regarded as representing the Church of the living God: let Balak, king of Moab, be regarded as representing all the forces which encounter the Church of the living God with suspicion or hostility: let Balaam be regarded as the prophet of the Lord standing between the Church and the kingdoms of heathenism, and declaring the divine purpose, and dwelling in sacred and rapturous eloquence upon the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Numbers 23:8

Observe what he saith: that he could not; not that he would not, for that he wished. But how precious an instruction doth this hold forth to the believer in JESUS: neither magicians, nor devils, can curse those whom GOD hath pronounced blessed. And if the poor man did but call this to resemblance, never would he be led to fear, much less to put confidence in, the juggling arts of conjurers and fortune-tellers, who go about to impose on the unwary. read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Numbers 23:9

What a delightful string of the most glorious prophecies doth the LORD constrain this man to deliver! Yes! the LORD doth send, by whom he will send, his blessed truths to his church and people. And let the Reader remark with me, that our GOD hath in all ages made use of the worst of instruments to promote the best of causes. For rather than his children shall want bread, be will feed them from their enemies' table. Reader! amidst the prophecies here delivered dwell a short period on the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Sweet thought! though the flock of JESUS be but a little flock when comparatively considered; yet it is in itself an innumerable company. Reader! if it be your portion to be of the number of the ransomed which shall return to Zion, you will find the house of GOD to be neither scanty nor small. Multitudes have already entered it, and multitudes are continually pouring into it from all the quarters of the earth. Revelation 7:9 ; Matthew 8:11 . But how awful a thought is it, that any man, like... read more

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