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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:1-14

The children of Israel have at length finished their wanderings in the wilderness, out of which they went up (Num. 21:18), and are now encamped in the plains of Moab near Jordan, where they continued till they passed through Jordan under Joshua, after the death of Moses. Now we have here, I. The fright which the Moabites were in upon the approach of Israel, Num. 22:2-4. They needed not to fear any harm from them if they knew (and it is probable that Moses let them know) the orders God had... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 22:15-21

We have here a second embassy sent to Balaam, to fetch him over to curse Israel. It were well for us if we were as earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstanding disappointments, as Balak was in pursuing this ill design. The enemies of the church are restless and unwearied in their attempts against it; but he that sits in heaven laughs at them. Observe, I. The temptation Balak laid before Balaam. He contrived to make this assault more vigorous than the former. It is very... read more

Matthew Henry

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 22:9

And God came unto Balaam ,.... In a dream very probably, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Genesis 20:3 , and said, what men are these with thee ? who lodged with him that night. This he said, not as ignorant who they were, or from whence they came, or what they came about; but in order to lead on to a discourse with Balaam, and to have from him the account of the men, and their business, and to try his fidelity in relating the affair. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:10

And Balaam said unto God ,.... In answer to the question he put to him: Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me ; these men, and a message by them: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:11

Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt ,.... In this, and the following part of the verse, he faithfully and punctually relates the words of Balak to him by his messengers, as well knowing he could not deceive the omniscient God, or hide anything from him, though he could deceive men; and conceal the truth from them, to serve a purpose; See Gill on Numbers 22:5 , Numbers 22:6 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:12

And God said unto Balaam, thou shalt not go with them ,.... Which is a denial of the first thing Balak requested, "come now, therefore", &c.; Numbers 22:6 . thou shall not curse the people ; which was the principal thing desired, and in order to which he was solicited to go with the messengers; but this is absolutely forbidden: for they are blessed ; by the Lord himself, with an irrevocable blessing, and therefore it would be vain and fruitless, as well as dangerous for him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:13

And Balaam rose up in the morning ,.... With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it: and said unto the princes of Balak ; which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian: get you into your land ; as soon as you can; set forward on your journey, it is to no purpose to stay here: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you ; he only relates... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:14

And the princes of Moab rose up ,.... And the princes of Midian also, immediately, without entering into a parley with him, to persuade him to go with them; perceiving by his answer that it would be to no purpose, and that he was determined to do as the Lord directed him: and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us ; as Balaam told them less than what God had said to him, so they related less to Balak than what Balaam had said to them; saying nothing of the Lord's... read more

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