民数记 24:3-7 CUNPSS

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 24:1-9

The blessing itself which Balaam here pronounces upon Israel is much the same with the two we had in the foregoing chapter; but the introduction to it is different. I. The method of proceeding here varies much in several instances. 1. Balaam laid aside the enchantments which he had hitherto depended on, used no spells, or charms, or magic arts, finding they did him no service; it was to no purpose to deal with the devil for a curse, when it was plain that God was determined immovably to bless,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:3

And he took up his parable ,.... His parable of prophecy, as the Targums, his prophetic speech, which, with a loud voice, he expressed in the hearing of Balak and his nobles: and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said ; the preface to his prophecy is pompous, and seems to be full of pride and vanity, and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem represent him;"the man who is more excellent than his father hath said, to whom hidden secrets, even what was hidden from the prophets is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:4

He hath said, which heard the words of God ,.... God speaking to him, which he did several times, and with which he was greatly elated, see Numbers 22:9 , which saw the vision of the Almighty ; not that he had a sight of any similitude of God, though the angel that appeared to him, which was Christ the uncreated angel, might appear in an human form, for some visible form was seen both by the ass and him; but rather this respects the visions of God to him in the night; it may be in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:5

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob ,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and agreeable: and thy tabernacles, O Israel ; which is the same thing in other words, and which may be applied figuratively to the church of God, which often goes by the names of Jacob and Israel; and agrees with particular congregations and assemblies of saints, where they dwell as in tents in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:6

As the valleys are they spread forth ,.... Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Numbers 2:3 and this may denote the lowness of the saints and people of God in their own eyes, and their largeness in themselves; and especially when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets ,.... That is, God shall plentifully send down rain out of the clouds upon these valleys, gardens, and trees, and make them fruitful; and this may be a figure of the grace of God, with which his churches are watered, and become fruitful by means of the word and ordinances, which is conveyed through them out of the fulness which is in Christ: and his seed shall be in many waters ; the seed and offspring of Israel shall be in a place of many... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:3

He took up his parable - His prophetic declaration couched in highly poetic terms, and in regular metre, as the preceding were. The man whose eyes are open - I believe the original שתם shethum , should be translated shut, not open; for in the next verse, where the opening of his eyes is mentioned, a widely different word is used, גלה galah , which signifies to open or reveal. At first the eyes of Balaam were shut, and so closely too that he could not see the angel who withstood... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:4

Falling into a trance - There is no indication in the Hebrew that he fell into a trance; these words are added by our translators, but they are not in the original. נפל nophel is the only word used, and simply signifies falling, or falling down, perhaps in this instance by way of religious prostration. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:6

Lign aloes which the Lord hath planted - Or, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched; for it is the same word, אהלים ohalim , which is used in the 5th verse. But from other parts of Scripture we find that the word also signifies a species of tree, called by some the sandal tree, and by others the lignum or wood aloes. This tree is described as being eight or ten feet high, with very large leaves growing at the top; and it is supposed that a forest of those at some distance must bear... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, etc. - Here is a very plain allusion to their method of raising water in different parts of the East. By the well a tall pole is erected, which serves as a fulcrum to a very long lever, to the smaller end of which a bucket is appended. On the opposite end, which is much larger, are many notches cut in the wood, which serve as steps for a man, whose business it is to climb up to the fulcrum, in order to lower the bucket into the well, which, when... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 24:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 24:7

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