Numbers 22:34-38 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:22-35

We have here an account of the opposition God gave to Balaam in his journey towards Moab; probably the princes had gone before, or gone some other way, and Balaam had pointed out where he would meet them, or where they should stay for him, for we read nothing of them in this part of our narrative, only that Balaam, like a person of some quality, was attended with his two men-honour enough, one would think, for such a man, he needed not be beholden to Balak for promotion. I. Here is God's... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:36-41

We have here the meeting between Balak and Balaam, confederate enemies to God's Israel; but here they seem to differ in their expectations of the success. 1. Balak speaks of it with confidence, not doubting but to gain his point now that Balaam had come. In expectation of this, he went out to meet him, even to the utmost border of his country (Num. 22:36), partly to gratify his own impatient desire to see one he had such great expectations from, and partly to do honour to Balaam, and so to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:34

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned ,.... That is, in beating the ass; not that he was sensible of his sin of covetousness, and of the evil disposition of his mind, and of his wicked intention in going along with the princes to curse Israel, if possible, and get Balak's presents and preferments: for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me ; signifying, that if he had known it, he should not have smitten the ass, but submitted himself to the will of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:35

And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, go with the men ,.... Which was not a command, but a concession, or rather a permission, leaving him to go if he would, suffering him to follow his own heart's lusts, and giving him up to them to his own destruction; and besides, it was not his going barely that was displeasing to God, but his going with such a bad intention: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak ; which expresses not only what he ought to do,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:36

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come ,.... Messengers being sent to acquaint him with it, either by Balaam, or by the princes: he went out to meet him ; overjoyed at the news that his princes had succeeded, and to show him respect, and do him honour, and all to encourage him to do his utmost for him: unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast ; by the situation of it, being on the border of the river Arnon, which river was in the extreme... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:37

And Balak said unto Balaam ,.... Upon their meeting together: did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee ? or "in sending send" F21 שלח שלחתי "mittendo misi", Pagninus, Montanus. ; the first messengers in a very pressing manner, with great importunity, to give thee an invitation to come to me, and those men of rank and quality, with rewards of divination in their hands, and yet the invitation was rejected; and after them other messengers, more in number and greater in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:38

And Balaam said unto Balak, lo, I am come unto thee ,.... And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things: have I now any power at all to say anything ? that would be agreeable to the king, and answer his purpose in sending for him, namely, to curse the people of Israel; he suggests that he had not, he was under the powerful restraint of God; he could not say what he himself was inclined to say, and what the king would have him say, and he expected he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:34

If it displease thee, I will get me back again - Here is a proof, that though he loved the wages of unrighteousness, yet he still feared God; and he is now willing to drop the enterprise if God be displeased with his proceeding. The piety of many called Christians does not extend thus far; they see that the thing displeases God, and yet they proceed. Reader, is this thy case? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:38

The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak - Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honor, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:35

Verse 35 35.And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam. Again this wicked man is ironically permitted to do what could not be carried out without sin. But, as I have said before, he was so conscious of his ungodly covetousness, that he knowingly and wilfully deceived himself, instead of being deceived. At the same time, we must observe that, as Paul calls God’s wisdom “manifold,” (Ephesians 3:10,) so His will is declared in various ways, as if He were inconsistent with Himself, though it always... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:22-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:36-41

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:34

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:36

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:38

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:34

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:38

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 22:35

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