Numbers 22:9-41

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:25

And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord ,.... In the same position as before, with a drown sword in his hand, and being frightened again, and in a narrow path, and no way to turn aside: she thrust herself unto the wall ; to one of the walls, as close as she could, in order to get by the angel: and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall ; running up so very closely to it: and he smote her again ; having done it once before, Numbers 22:23 the times of smiting are observed, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:26

And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place ,.... More narrow than the other, at a further distance: where was no way to turn, either to the right hand or to the left ; it was so strait and close a place that the angel filled the whole breadth of it, that there was no passing him; so that there was no getting forward nor backward; not forward, because the angel filled up the way, and there was no slipping by him; nor backward, because it could not turn itself to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:27

And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord ,.... The third time; for it seems that he was not always in sight, but disappeared as he removed from place to place, and at every new place where he stood the ass saw him, though her master did not: she fell down under Balaam ; upon her knees on the ground, not being able to go backwards nor forwards, nor to turn out of the way to the right or left: and Balaam's anger was kindled ; he was displeased and out of humour before, when it turned... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:28

And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam ,.... This was a very extraordinary and miraculous affair, and effected by a supernatural power, that a dumb creature, which had not organs endued with speech, should speak so plainly and distinctly, as is after expressed; and yet it should not be thought incredible, for what is it that Omnipotence cannot do? wherefore there is no need to say, as some Jewish writers F9 Maimon. Moreh Nevochim, par. 2. c. 42. Ben Gersom in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:29

And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me ,.... Or rather "defiled me", as the word is rendered in Job 16:15 by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it,"because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;'the sense of mocking is not easy to be understood, unless it be that it exposed him to be mocked and laughed at by others, by turning aside, and lying down, and being so unruly; but then there were only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:30

And the ass said unto Balaam ,.... Made a reply to him, as if it understood what he said, and had the faculty of reasoning and discoursing, as well as of speaking, which is very amazing: am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? or rather, "ever since thou wast"; not ever since he was in being, but ever since he could ride, so Aben Ezra; according to which, it seems that this was the first he rode upon, and which he had always been used to;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:31

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam ,.... Who either was struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were, so some think, or rather his eyes were held, that he could not see the angel; he could see other objects, as his ass, but he could not see that; as Elisha's servant could see the host that compassed the city, but not the chariots and horses of fire about Elisha, till his eyes were opened, 2 Kings 6:15 and so it was with Balaam until the Lord uncovered his eyes, or rolled away the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:32

And the angel of the Lord said unto him ,.... When risen up, and standing before him: wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times ? the brute creatures are not to be beaten without cause, nor to be misused and abused by men, even their owners: behold, I went out to withstand thee ; the ass was not to be blamed, nor to be beaten for turning aside, or lying down, it was I that stood in the way, and hindered its going forward, and this was done by me on purpose to oppose and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:33

And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times ,.... The ass saw the angel when Balaam did not, and that was the reason of its turning aside; and it was well for him it did, and therefore he should not have smote it: unless she had turned from me ; if she had pushed on, endeavouring to make her way: surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive ; had certainly and only slain him, and not the ass; and from hence the Jewish writers F20 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 20.... 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

Group of Brands