Numbers 23:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 23:13-30

Here is, I. Preparation made the second time, as before, for the cursing of Israel. 1. The place is changed, Num. 23:13. Balak fancied that Balaam, having so full a prospect of the whole camp of Israel, from the top of the rocks (Num. 23:9), was either so enamoured with the beauty of it that he would not curse them or so affrighted with the terror of it that he durst not; and therefore he would bring him to another place, form which he might see only some part of them, which would appear more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:22

God brought them out of Egypt ,.... With a mighty hand and stretched out arm, and he will conduct them through the wilderness, and bring them safe to Canaan's land; he that brought them from thence will not suffer them to perish by any means; it is in vain to attempt to curse a people that is in such hands, and for whom he has done such great things: Jarchi thinks this stands opposed to what Balak had said, Numbers 22:5 , thou sayest, "lo, a people is come out of Egypt";"they did not come... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

The strength of a unicorn - ראם reem and ראים reim . It is generally allowed that there is no such beast in nature as the unicorn; i. e., a creature of the horse kind, with one long rich curled horn in the forehead. The creature painted from fancy is represented as one of the supporters of the royal arms of Great Britain. It is difficult to say what kind of beast is intended by the original word. The Septuagint translate the word μονοκερως , the unicorn, or one-horned animal; the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 23:22

Verse 22 22.God brouqht them out of Egypt. He assigns a reason for their constant success, i.e., because God has once redeemed this people, He will not forsake the work which He has begun. The argument is drawn from the continued course of God’s blessings; for, since they flow from an inexhaustible fountain, their progress is incessant. This, however, specially refers to the state of the Church, for He will never cease to be gracious to His children, until He has led them to the very end of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 23:22

God. אֵל , and also at the end of the next verse, and four times in the next chapter ( Numbers 23:4 , Numbers 23:8 , Numbers 23:16 , Numbers 23:23 ). The use seems to be poetic, and no particular signification can be attached to it. Brought them, or, perhaps, "is leading them." So the Septuagint: θεὸς ὁ ἐξαγαγὼν αὐτόν . Unicorn. Hebrew, רְאֵם . It is uniformly rendered μονοκέρως by the Septuagint, under the mistaken notion that the rhinoceros was intended. It... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 23:22

An unicorn - A wild bull, the now extinct Aurochs, formidable for its size, strength, speed, and ferocity. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 23:22

Numbers 23:22. Out of Egypt Namely, by a strong hand, and in spite of all their enemies, and therefore it is in vain to seek or hope to overcome them. He hath the strength of a unicorn He, Israel, whom God brought out of Egypt, such change of numbers being very common in the Hebrew language. The sense is, Israel is not now what he was in Egypt, a poor, weak, dispirited, unarmed people, but high, and strong, and invincible. The only difficulty is, what creature is here meant by ראם , ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:1-30

Balaam’s announcements (22:36-24:25)Balak welcomed Balaam and took him to a high place where he could see the vastness of the Israelite camp. Balak no doubt hoped that Balaam, on seeing this, would be convinced that the Israelites were a serious threat and would put a destructive curse upon them (36-41). But Balaam announced God’s approval of the Israelites. Their vast number, their place in history and their present migration were according to God’s will. Balaam comforted himself with the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 23:22

strength = heights or heaps of. Hebrew. to'apoth. Only here, Numbers 24:8 , Job 22:25 (plenty), and Psalms 95:4 (= heights). unicorn. This word is from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is ree m. Supposed to be the rhinoceros, buffalo, or antelope: always rendered "unicorn" in Authorized Version. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 23:22

Numbers 23:22. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath, &c.— The alteration of the numbers in our translation renders the meaning sometimes perplexed. It would be better to read the foregoing verse as above; and the present, God brought them out of Egypt; their strength is as the strength of the unicorn. Concerning the unicorn, see the note on the 8th verse of the next chapter. The first clause, God brought them out of Egypt, is applied by St. Matthew to Jesus Christ. See Matthew 2:15. read more

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