2 Peter 2:15-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 2:10-22

The apostle's design being to warn us of, and arm us against, seducers, he now returns to discourse more particularly of them, and give us an account of their character and conduct, which abundantly justifies the righteous Judge of the world in reserving them in an especial manner for the most severe and heavy doom, as Cain is taken under special protection that he might be kept for uncommon vengeance. But why will God thus deal with these false teachers? This he shows in what follows. I.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 2:15-16

2:15-16 They have left the straight road and have gone awandering, and have followed the road of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the profit which unrighteousness brings and who was convicted of his lawlessness. A dumb ass spoke with a man's voice and checked the prophet's folly. Peter likens the evil men of his time to the prophet Balaam. In the popular Jewish mind Balaam had come to stand as the type of all false prophets. His story is told in Numbers 22:1-41 ; Numbers 23:1-30 ; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way ,.... The right way of the Lord, the way of truth, the Gospel of truth; or Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life; the true way to eternal life, and which is the right way to eternal happiness; the way of life, righteousness, and salvation by Christ, the Christian faith, and the doctrine of it, which they once professed, but now relinquished: and are gone astray ; from the right way, the way of truth and holiness, into the paths of error and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:16

But was rebuked for his iniquity ,.... Which was not merely going along with the messengers of Balak, for he had leave from the Lord so to do, Numbers 22:20 ; but going along with them with a desire to curse Israel, when it was the will of God he should go and bless them, in order to get Balak's money; so that his governing iniquity was covetousness, which led him to other sins; and for this he was rebuked by the angel, Numbers 22:32 , as well as reproved by his ass, Numbers 22:28 ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way - As Balaam did, who, although God showed him the right way, took one contrary to it, preferring the reward offered him by Balak to the approbation and blessing of God. The way of Balaam - Is the counsel of Balaam. He counselled the Moabites to give their most beautiful young women to the Israelitish youth, that they might be enticed by them to commit idolatry. See the notes on Numbers 22:5 , etc., and Numbers 23:1 ; (note), etc. The son of Bosor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice - See the note on Numbers 22:28 . The madness of the prophet - Is not this a reference to the speech of the ass, as represented in the Targums of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Jerusalem? "Wo to thee, Balaam, thou sinner, thou madman: there is no wisdom found in thee." These words contain nearly the same expressions as those in St. Peter. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

Verse 15 As he has hitherto referred to the injury they did by the example of a perverse and corrupt life, so he again repeats, that they spread by their teaching the deadly poison of impiety, in order that they might destroy the simple. He compares them to Balaam, the son of Bozor, who employed a venal tongue to curse God’s people. And to shew that they were not worthy of a long refutation, he says that Balaam was reproved by an ass, and that thus his madness was condemned. But by this means... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

Verse 16 It may be here asked, by what right Balaam had the name of a prophet, when it appears that he was addicted to many wicked superstitions. To this I reply, that the gift of prophecy was so special, that though he did not worship the true God, and had not true religion, he might yet have been endued with it. Besides, God has sometimes caused prophecy to exist in the midst of idolatry, in order that men might have less excuse. Now, if any one considers the chief things which Peter says,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray; literally, forsaking (or having forsaken; there are two slightly differing readings, both well supported) the right way, they went astray. The false teachers in St. Peter's time were like Elymas the sorcerer, whom St. Paul accused of perverting "the right ways of the Lord" ( Acts 13:10 ; comp. also Acts 13:2 of this chapter). In the 'Shepherd of Hermas' occurs what may be an echo of this verse: "Who … have forsaken their true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 2:16

But was rebuked for his iniquity; literally, but had a rebuke for his own transgression. The word for "rebuke" ( ἔλεγξιν ) Occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The guilt of offering the wages of unrighteousness rested with Balak; Balaam's own transgression lay in his readiness to accept them—in his willingness to break the law of God by cursing, for filthy lucre's sake, those whom God had not cursed. The dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. The... read more

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