民數記 23:8-10 RCUVTS

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 23:1-12

Here is, I. Great preparation made for the cursing of Israel. That which was aimed at was to engage the God of Israel to forsake them, and either to be on Moab's side or to stand neuter. O the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at men's beck! Balaam and Balak think to bribe him with altars and sacrifices, offered without any warrant or institution of his: as if he would eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats. Ridiculous nonsense, to think that these would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed ?.... The sense is, that it was impossible for him to curse those that God did not curse himself, or would not have cursed by others; not but that he had a good will to it, to get Balak's money and honour, but he knew not how to accomplish it; yea, he saw it was in vain to attempt it, it was a thing that could not possibly be done: God does not, nor will he curse his spiritual Israel; they are blessed by him in Christ, and they shall be blessed; nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:9

For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him ,.... That is, Israel in their camps; Balaam being at this time on the top of a rock, or on an high hill, from whence he had a view of Israel, encamped in the plains of Moab below him: lo, the people shall dwell alone ; this certainly respects their dwelling in the land of Canaan, where they dwelt a separate people from all others, distinguished by their language, religion, laws, customs, and manner of living, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Who can count, the dust of Jacob ,.... The people of Israel, their posterity so called, not because of their original, the dust of the earth, but because of their numbers, being as numerous as the dust of the earth, or sand of the sea, as it was promised they should be, Genesis 28:14 and which is here confirmed by the prophecy of Balaam: and the number of the fourth part of Israel ; one of the four camps of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; for this people was divided... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:8

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? - It was granted on all hands that no incantations nor imprecations could avail, unless God concurred and ratified them. From God's communication to Balaam he saw that God was determined to bless and defend Israel, and therefore all endeavors to injure them must be in vain. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

From the top of the rocks I see him - That is, from the high places of Baal where he went, Numbers 22:41 , that he might the more advantageously see the whole camp of Israel. The people shall dwell alone - They shall ever be preserved as a distinct nation. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled through a period of 3300 years to the present day. This is truly astonishing. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

Let me die the death of the righteous - Probably Balaam had some presentiment that he should be taken off by a premature death, and therefore he lodges this petition against it. The death of the righteous in those times implied being gathered to one's fathers in a good old age, having seen his children, and children's children; and to this, probably, the latter part of this petition applies: And let my last end be like his, ( כמהו אחריתי ותהי uthehi acharithi chamohu , And let my... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

Verse 9 9For from the top of the rocks I see him. Unless I am mistaken, the meaning is that, although he only beheld the people from afar, so that he could not accurately perceive their power from so high and distant a spot, still they portended to him something great and formidable. A closer view generally intimidates men; besides, a body of twenty thousand men then dazzles our sight, as if the number were five times as great: whilst the real extent of a thing is also more accurately... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

Verse 10 10.Who can count the dust of Jacob? Hence it is plain that what Balaam was to say was suggested to him by God, since he quotes the words of God’s solemn promise, wherein the seed of Abraham is compared to the dust of the earth. Still, we must bear in mind what I have just adverted to, that, although that multitude was reduced to a small number by the sin of the people, nevertheless this was not declared in vain, inasmuch as that little body at length expanded itself so as to fill the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:9

The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned. Rather, "It is a people that dwelleth apart, and is not numbered." It was not the outward isolation on which his eye was fixed, for that indeed was only temporary and accidental, but the religious and moral separateness of Israel as the chosen people of God, which was the very secret of their national greatness. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 23:1-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:9

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