Bible Commentaries

the children

21:20, 33:48-50, 36:13, Deuteronomy 34:1,8

on this side

32:19, 34:15, Deuteronomy 1:5, 3:8, Joshua 3:16

21:3,20-35, Judges 11:25

Exodus 15:15, Deuteronomy 2:25, Joshua 2:10,11,24, 9:24, Psalms 53:5, Isaiah 23:5

elders

7, 25:15-18, 31:8, Joshua 13:21,22

Now shall

24:17, Jeremiah 48:38

And Balak

2, Judges 11:25

sent

Deuteronomy 23:4, Joshua 13:22, 24:9, Nehemiah 13:1,2, Micah 6:5, 2 Peter 2:15,16

son of Bosor

Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14

Pethor

Dr. Kennicott justly remarks, that "the description now given of Balaam's residence, instead of being particular, agrees with any place, in any country where there is a river; for he lived by 'Pethor, which is by the river of the land of his people.' But was Pethor, then, near the Nile in Egypt? Or in Canaan, near Jordan? Or in Mesopotamia, near the Euphrates, and belonging to the Ammonites? This last was in fact the case; and therefore, it is well that twelve Hebrew MSS. (with two of De Rossi's) confirm the Samaritan text here, in reading instead of âmmo, 'his people,' Ammon, with the Syriac and Vulgate versions." Houbigant justly contends for this reading; and necessity urges the propriety of adopting it: and it thus agrees with De 23:4. Ptolemy calls Pethor, Pachura, and Eusebius, Pathura; who places it in upper Mesopotamia. Calmet is of opinion, that it was situated towards Thapsacus, beyond the Euphrates.

23:7, Deuteronomy 23:4

they cover

Genesis 13:16, Exodus 1:7-10, Psalms 105:24

face

Heb. eye.

curse me

23:7,8, 24:9, Genesis 12:3, 27:29, Deuteronomy 23:4, Joshua 24:9, 1 Samuel 17:43, Nehemiah 13:2, Psalms 109:17,18

I wot

1 Kings 22:6,8,13, Psalms 109:28, Proverbs 26:2, Isaiah 47:12,13, Ezekiel 13:6, Acts 8:9,10, 16:16

rewards of divination

1 Samuel 9:7,8, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Micah 3:11, Romans 16:18, 1 Timothy 6:9,10, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11

19,20, 12:6, 23:12, Jeremiah 12:2, Ezekiel 33:31

God

20, Genesis 20:3, 31:24, 41:25, Daniel 2:45, 4:31,32, Matthew 7:22, 24:24, John 11:51

What men

Genesis 3:9-11, 4:9, 16:8, Exodus 4:2, 2 Kings 20:14,15

Numbers 22:4-6

able to overcome them

Heb. prevail in fighting against them.

Balaam, Thou shalt

20, Job 33:15-17, Matthew 27:19

thou shalt not curse

19, 23:3,13-15,19,23, Micah 6:5

for they

23:20, Genesis 12:2, 22:16-18, Deuteronomy 23:5, 33:29, Psalms 144:15, 146:5, Romans 4:6,7, 11:29, Ephesians 1:3

for the Lord

14, Deuteronomy 23:5

Balaam refuseth

13,37

princes

7,8, Acts 10:7,8

Let nothing, etc

Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc.

I will promote

24:11, Deuteronomy 16:9, Esther 5:11, 7:9, Matthew 4:8,9, 16:26

and I will do

23:2,3,29,30, Matthew 14:7

come

curse me

An erroneous opinion prevailed, both in those days and in after ages, that some men had the power, by the help of their gods, to devote, not only particular persons, but cities and whole armies, to destruction. This they are said to have done sometimes by words of imprecation; of which there was a set form among some people, which Æschines calls [diorizomenen aran ] "the determinate curse." Macrobius has a whole chapter on this subject. He gives us two of the ancient forms used in reference to the destruction of Carthage; the first, which was only pronounced by the dictator, or general, was to call over the protecting deities to their side, and the other to devote the city to destruction, which they were supposed to have abandoned. The Romans held, that no city would be taken till its tutelary god had forsaken it; or if it could be taken, it would be unlawful, as it would be sacrilege to lead the gods into captivity. Virgil intimates, that Troy was destroyed because Excessere omnes adytis, arisque relictis dii, quibus imperium hoc steterat, "All the gods, by whose assistance the empire had hitherto been preserved, forsook their altars and temples." See more on this subject in Dr. A. Clarke, Bp. Patrick, and Burder's Oriental Customs, No. 734.

If Balak

24:13, Titus 1:16

I cannot

23:26, 24:13, 1 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 18:13, Daniel 5:17, Acts 8:20

7,8, 1 Timothy 6:9,10, 2 Peter 2:3,15, Jude 1:11

God

If the men

1 Samuel 8:5-9, 12:12-19, Psalms 81:12, Ezekiel 14:2-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

but yet

35, 23:12,26, 24:13, Psalms 33:10,11, 78:30,31, Isaiah 37:29, Hosea 13:11

Proverbs 1:15,16

God's

2 Kings 10:20, Hosea 1:4

and the angel

35, Genesis 48:15,16, Exodus 3:2-6, Hosea 12:4,5

stood

32, Exodus 4:24, Lamentations 2:4

the ass saw

2 Kings 6:17, 1 Chronicles 21:16, Daniel 10:7, Acts 22:9, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 2 Peter 2:16, Jude 1:11

the ass turned

Jeremiah 8:7

crushed Balaam's

Job 5:13-15, Isaiah 47:12

where was no way

Isaiah 26:11, Hosea 2:6

and Balaam's anger

Proverbs 14:16, 27:3,4

the Lord opened

And where is the wonder of all this? If the ass had opened her own mouth, and reproved the rash prophet, we might well be astonished; but when God opens the mouth, an ass can speak as well as a man. It is to no purpose to speak of the construction of the ass's mouth, of the formation of the tongue and jaws being unfit for speaking; for an adequate cause is assigned for this wonderful effect, "The Lord opened the mouth of the ass"; and no one who believes in a God, can doubt of his power to do this and much more.

Exodus 4:11, Luke 1:37, 1 Corinthians 1:19, 2 Peter 2:16

What have I

Romans 8:22

for now would

Proverbs 12:10,16, Ecclesiastes 9:3

the ass said

2 Peter 2:16

upon which thou hast ridden

Heb. who hast ridden upon me. ever since I was thine. or, ever since thou wast, unto, etc.

1 Corinthians 1:27,28

opened

24:4; *marg:; 24:16, Genesis 21:19, 2 Kings 6:17-20, 1 Chronicles 21:16, Luke 24:16,31, Acts 26:18

bowed down

Exodus 34:8, Psalms 9:20, John 18:6

fell flat on his face

or, bowed himself.

Wherefore

28, Deuteronomy 25:4, Psalms 36:6, 145:9, 147:9, Jonah 4:11

withstand thee

Heb. be an adversary unto thee.

thy way

Deuteronomy 23:4, Proverbs 28:6, Micah 6:5, Acts 13:10, 2 Peter 2:14,15

before me

20,22,35, Exodus 3:2-6, Proverbs 14:2, 28:18

surely

14:37, 16:33-35, 1 Kings 13:24-28

I Have sinned

Exodus 9:27, 10:16,17, 1 Samuel 15:24,30, 24:17, 26:21, 2 Samuel 12:13, Job 34:31,32, Psalms 78:34, Matthew 27:4,5

if it displease thee

Heb. be evil in thine eyes.

12, 11:1, 1 Chronicles 21:7, Proverbs 24:18; *margins

I will get

Job 34:31,32

Go

20, Psalms 81:12, Isaiah 37:26-29, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

I shall speak

20,21

went

Genesis 14:17, 18:2, 46:29, Exodus 18:7, 1 Samuel 13:10, Acts 28:15

the border

21:13,14, Deuteronomy 2:24, 3:8, Judges 11:18, Isaiah 16:2, Jeremiah 48:20

I am not able

16,17, 24:11, Psalms 75:6, Matthew 4:8,9, Luke 4:6, John 5:44

have I

18, Psalms 33:10, 76:10, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 44:25, 46:10, 47:12

the word

23:16,26, 24:13, 1 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 18:13

Kirjath-huzoth

or, a city of streets. Probably Rabbath-Moab, now called Rabba, the capital of the Moabites; and being the royal city, distinguished by its streets.

23:2,14,30, Genesis 31:54, Proverbs 1:16

high places

Bamoth baal, "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in ch. 21.19, 20; evidently not far from Baal-meon, in the mountains of Abarim: for the Israelites were now encamped in the plains of Moab, which these mountains overlook. Baal, which signifies a lord or governor, was a name common to many idols; and probably here was the same as Chemosh, the god of Moab.

25:2,3, Deuteronomy 12:2, 2 Chronicles 11:15, Jeremiah 48:35

utmost

23:13