Numbers 23:7-10 NLT,NIV,ESV

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:7

Parable. Beginning to speak in a beautiful and poetic style, like a man inspired. (Calmet) --- Mashal, denotes a striking and elegant prophecy. (Menochius) --- Aram, when placed alone, properly means Syria; but when Padan or Naharaim are added, Mesopotamia is meant, whence Balaam came, Deuteronomy xxii. 5. --- East of Moab, though lying to the north, or higher part of Mesopotamia. (Calmet) read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:9

Hills. But all in vain. (Calmet) --- I am prevented from cursing him; and if I should do it, my imprecations would be turned into blessings by a superior Being. (Haydock) --- Alone, without standing in need of any auxiliaries, and devoid of fear, Deuteronomy xiii. 28., and Jeremias xlix. 31. The Jews had but few connections with foreign nations, keeping at a distance from them, as being of a different religion. (Calmet) --- Indeed, when they applied for aid to the Egyptians, &c., it... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Dust. God had promised to multiply the seed of Abraham as the dust of the earth, Genesis xiii. 16. Balaam had just beheld several thousands of them, and in rapture, exclaims, according to the Hebrew, "Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?" Their camp was divided into four great battalions, surrounding the ark and the Levites. Who can tell the number of one of these divisions, much less of all the multitudes there assembled, and what millions may, in a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:1-10

1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who... read more

Frank Binford Hole

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 23:1-13

The First Sacrifice and Prophetic Utterance. v. 1. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams, namely, one animal of either group for each altar. Balaam here presumed upon a show of authority which he did not possess, and he dedicated his sacrifices to Jehovah, although they were offered on a place consecrated to the loathsome idol of the heathen. His idea apparently was to gain the favor of the Lord by the rich offering and cause Him... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 23:1-10

E.—THE FIRST BLESSING OF BALLAMNumbers 22:41 to Numbers 23:10Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy... 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

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Numbers 23:10

Numbers AN UNFULFILLED DESIRE Num_23:10 . - Num_31:8 . Ponder these two pictures. Take the first scene. A prophet, who knows God and His will, is standing on the mountain top, and as he looks down over the valley beneath him, with its acacia-trees and swift river, there spread the tents of Israel. He sees them, and knows that they are ‘a people whom the Lord hath blessed.’ Brought there to curse, ‘he blesses them altogether’; and as he gazes upon their ordered ranks and sees somewhat of the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 23:1-12

a Blessing instead of a Curse Numbers 22:41 ; Numbers 23:1-12 Notice the position of these chapters, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such terrible sins that it might seem impossible for God to continue to acknowledge them; yet here God stands for them and restrains the spirit of evil. He will take their chastisement, when needed, into his own hands. With all his might Balaam strove to earn the royal gifts. Ah, thought he, that I could... read more