Numbers 22
Overview
22:1 Balak's first message for Balaam is refused;
22:15 His second message obtains him;
22:22 An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his ass;
22:36 Balak entertains him. Verse 1 the children Numbers 21:20, 33:48-50, 36:13; Deuteronomy 34:1, 34:8 on this side Numbers 32:19, 34:15; Deuteronomy 1:5, 3:8; Joshua 3:16 Reciprocal Genesis 19:37 - Moabites; Numbers 26:3 - General; 31:12 - the plains of Moab; 35:1 - General; Amos 2:1 - For three; Micah 6:5 - Balak Verse 2 Numbers 21:3, 21:20-35; Judges 11:25 Reciprocal Numbers 22:4 - And Balak Verse 3 Exodus 15:15; Deuteronomy 2:25; Joshua 2:10, 2:11, 2:24, 9:24; Psalm 53:5; Isaiah 23:5 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 2:4 - they shall; Nehemiah 2:10 - it grieved; 13:2 - hired Balaam; Habakkuk 3:7 - saw the Verse 4 elders Numbers 22:7, 25:15-18, 31:8; Joshua 13:21, 13:22 Now shall Numbers 24:17; Jeremiah 48:38 And Balak Numbers 22:2; Judges 11:25 Reciprocal Genesis 25:2 - Midian; Exodus 1:9 - the people; Numbers 22:10 - General; 25:6 - a Midianitish; Deuteronomy 2:4 - they shall; 2:9 - Distress not the Moabites; 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian; 1 Chronicles 1:32 - Midian; Nehemiah 2:10 - it grieved; Habakkuk 3:7 - saw the Verse 5 sent Deuteronomy 23:4; Joshua 13:22, 24:9; Nehemiah 13:1, 13:2; Micah 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15, 2:16, son of Bosor, Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14 PethorDr. 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 manuscripts (with two of De Rossi's) confirm the Samaritan text here, in reading instead of a?mmo, 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 Deuteronomy 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. Numbers 23:7; Deuteronomy 23:4 they cover Genesis 13:16; Exodus 1:7-10; Psalm 105:24 faceHeb. eyeReciprocal Exodus 1:9 - the people; 15:14 - hear; Numbers 23:22 - God; 1 Chronicles 6:70 - Bileam Verse 6 curse me Numbers 23:7, 23:8, 24:9; Genesis 12:3, 27:29; Deuteronomy 23:4; Joshua 24:9; 1 Samuel 17:43; Nehemiah 13:2; Psalm 109:17, 109:18 I wot 1 Kings 22:6, 22:8, 22:13; Psalm 109:28; Proverbs 26:2; Isaiah 47:12, 47:13; Ezekiel 13:6; Acts 8:9, 8:10, 16:16 Reciprocal Exodus 1:10 - wisely; Numbers 22:17 - come; 23:23 - no enchantment; 24:10 - I called; Psalm 64:5 - encourage; Acts 3:17 - wot Verse 7 rewards of divination 1 Samuel 9:7, 9:8; Isaiah 56:11; Ezekiel 13:19; Micah 3:11; Romans 16:18; 1 Timothy 6:9, 6:10; Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11 Reciprocal Numbers 22:4 - elders; 22:15 - princes; 22:19 - General; Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they hired; Judges 16:18 - brought money; 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian; 2 Kings 5:5 - and took; Daniel 2:6 - ye shall; 5:7 - be clothed; Acts 1:18 - with Verse 8 Numbers 22:19, 22:20, 12:6, 23:12; Jeremiah 12:2; Ezekiel 33:31 Reciprocal Numbers 22:15 - princes; 23:3 - peradventure; 23:15 - General Verse 9 God Numbers 22:20; Genesis 20:3, 31:24, 41:25; Daniel 2:45, 4:31, 4:32; 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, 20:15 Reciprocal Numbers 23:3 - peradventure; 23:4 - God Verse 10 Numbers 22:4-6 Reciprocal 31:8 - Balaam Verse 11 able to overcome themHeb. prevail in fighting against them, Numbers 22:11 Reciprocal Genesis 27:29 - cursed; Numbers 23:7 - Come; 23:11 - General; 24:10 - I called; Joshua 24:10 - General; 1 Samuel 17:43 - cursed Verse 12 Thou shalt Numbers 22:20; Job 33:15-17; Matthew 27:19 thou shalt not curse Numbers 22:19, 23:3, 23:13-15, 23:19, 23:23; Micah 6:5 for they Numbers 23:20; Genesis 12:2, 22:16-18; Deuteronomy 23:5, 33:29; Psalm 144:15, 146:5; Romans 4:6, 4:7, 11:29; Ephesians 1:3 Reciprocal Genesis 27:29 - cursed; Numbers 22:34 - if it displease thee; Deuteronomy 1:11 - and bless you; Joshua 24:10 - General; 1 Samuel 17:43 - cursed; Psalm 109:28 - Let them Verse 13 for the Lord Numbers 22:14; Deuteronomy 23:5 Reciprocal Numbers 24:1 - saw; 1 Kings 13:16 - General; 21:4 - I will not Verse 14 Balaam refuseth Numbers 22:13, 22:37 Reciprocal 1 Kings 21:4 - I will not Verse 15 princes Numbers 22:7, 22:8; Acts 10:7, 10:8 Reciprocal Genesis 34:19 - honourable Verse 16 Let nothingetc. Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc. Numbers 22:16 Reciprocal 22:37 - General; 2 Samuel 13:28 - fear not; Daniel 2:48 - a great Verse 17 I will promote Numbers 24:11; Deuteronomy 16:9; Esther 5:11, 7:9; Matthew 4:8, 4:9, 16:26 and I will do Numbers 23:2, 23:3, 23:29, 23:30; Matthew 14:7 come Numbers 22:6 curse meAn 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 calls διοριζομενην αραν, "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.Reciprocal 22:37 - General; 23:7 - Come; 23:11 - General; 24:10 - I called; Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they hired; Judges 16:5 - we will; 2 Samuel 13:28 - fear not; 2 Kings 5:5 - and took; Daniel 2:6 - ye shall; 2:48 - a great; 5:7 - be clothed; Acts 1:18 - with; 1 Timothy 6:9 - they Verse 18 If Balak Numbers 24:13; Titus 1:16 I cannot Numbers 23:26, 24:13; 1 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 18:13; Daniel 5:17; Acts 8:20 Reciprocal Numbers 22:38 - have I; 23:20 - I cannot; 24:12 - General; Joshua 24:10 - General; Judges 16:5 - we will; 1 Kings 13:8 - If; 2 Kings 5:5 - and took; Job 3:15 - who filled their houses; 2 Peter 2:15 - who Verse 19 Numbers 22:7, 22:8; 1 Timothy 6:9, 6:10; 2 Peter 2:3, 2:15; Jude 1:11 Reciprocal Numbers 22:12 - thou shalt not curse; 1 Kings 13:16 - General; Job 4:13 - thoughts Verse 20 God Numbers 22:9 If the men 1 Samuel 8:5-9, 12:12-19; Psalm 81:12; Ezekiel 14:2-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 but yet Numbers 22:35, 23:12, 23:26, 24:13; Psalm 33:10, 33:11, 78:30, 78:31; Isaiah 37:29; Hosea 13:11 Reciprocal Genesis 31:24 - dream; Numbers 22:8 - General; 22:12 - Thou shalt; 22:32 - before me; 23:4 - God; 1 Samuel 8:7 - Hearken; Job 4:13 - thoughts; Jeremiah 1:7 - for thou shalt Verse 21 Proverbs 1:15, 1:16 Reciprocal Numbers 16:15 - I have not; 22:35 - I shall speak; 1 Kings 13:13 - General Verse 22 God's 2 Kings 10:20; Hosea 1:4 and the angel Numbers 22:35; Genesis 48:15, 48:16; Exodus 3:2-6; Hosea 12:4, 12:5 stood Numbers 22:32; Exodus 4:24; Lamentations 2:4 Reciprocal Judges 19:3 - his servant; 2 Peter 2:16 - the dumb Verse 23 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 Reciprocal Genesis 3:24 - a flaming; Exodus 4:24 - the Lord; Joshua 5:13 - his sword; 2 Peter 2:15 - who Verse 25 crushed Balaam's Job 5:13-15; Isaiah 47:12
Verse 26 where was no way Isaiah 26:11; Hosea 2:6 Reciprocal Genesis 31:24 - dream Verse 27 and Balaam's anger Proverbs 14:16, 27:3, 27:4
Verse 28 the Lord openedAnd 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 Reciprocal Genesis 3:1 - he said; Numbers 22:32 - Wherefore; Proverbs 12:10 - righteous; John 11:51 - he prophesied; 1 Corinthians 9:9 - Doth; 2 Peter 2:15 - who Verse 29 for now would Proverbs 12:10, 12:16; Ecclesiastes 9:3 Reciprocal Genesis 3:1 - he said; 30:34 - General; Matthew 2:16 - when Verse 30 the ass said 2 Peter 2:16 upon which thou hast riddenHeb. who hast ridden upon me, ever since I was thine. or, ever since thou wast, unto, etc. 1 Corinthians 1:27, 1:28 Reciprocal Numbers 16:15 - I have not Verse 31 opened Numbers 24:4 *marg. 24:16; Genesis 21:19; 2 Kings 6:17-20; 1 Chronicles 21:16; Luke 24:16, 24:31; Acts 26:18 bowed down Exodus 34:8; Psalm 9:20; John 18:6 fell flat on his faceor, bowed himselfReciprocal Numbers 23:3 - peradventure; 24:3 - whose eyes are open hath said Verse 32 Wherefore Numbers 22:28; Deuteronomy 25:4; Psalm 36:6, 145:9, 147:9; Jonah 4:11 withstand theeHeb. be an adversary unto thee, Numbers 22:22 thy way Deuteronomy 23:4; Proverbs 28:6; Micah 6:5; Acts 13:10; 2 Peter 2:14, 2:15 before me Numbers 22:20, 22:22, 22:35; Exodus 3:2-6; Proverbs 14:2, 28:18 Reciprocal Genesis 8:1 - the cattle; Ecclesiastes 11:9 - walk; Jeremiah 3:21 - for they have Verse 33 surely Numbers 14:37, 16:33-35; 1 Kings 13:24-28
Verse 34 I Have sinned Exodus 9:27, 10:16, 10:17; 1 Samuel 15:24, 15:30, 24:17, 26:21; 2 Samuel 12:13; Job 34:31, 34:32; Psalm 78:34; Matthew 27:4, 27:5 if it displease theeHeb. be evil in thine eyes, Numbers 22:12, 11:1; 1 Chronicles 21:7; Proverbs 24:18 *marg.I will get Job 34:31, 34:32 Reciprocal Genesis 38:10 - displeased; 48:17 - displeased him; Deuteronomy 1:41 - We have sinned; Joshua 7:20 - Indeed; 1 Samuel 18:8 - displeased him; 29:7 - displease; 1 Kings 9:12 - they pleased him not Verse 35 Go Numbers 22:20; Psalm 81:12; Isaiah 37:26-29; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 I shall speak Numbers 22:20, 22:21 Reciprocal 22:22 - and the angel; 22:32 - before me; 23:5 - General; 23:16 - General; Deuteronomy 23:5 - Nevertheless; Joshua 24:10 - General; 1 Kings 13:18 - an angel; 2 Chronicles 18:13 - even what my God Verse 36 went Genesis 14:17, 18:2, 46:29; Exodus 18:7; 1 Samuel 13:10; Acts 28:15 the border Numbers 21:13, 21:14; Deuteronomy 2:24, 3:8; Judges 11:18; Isaiah 16:2; Jeremiah 48:20
Verse 37 I Numbers 22:16, 22:17, 24:11; Psalm 75:6; Matthew 4:8, 4:9; Luke 4:6; John 5:44 Reciprocal Numbers 22:14 - Balaam refuseth; Daniel 2:6 - ye shall Verse 38 have I Numbers 22:18; Psalm 33:10, 76:10; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 44:25, 46:10, 47:12 the word Numbers 23:16, 23:26, 24:13; 1 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 18:13 Reciprocal Exodus 4:15 - and I; Numbers 23:12 - General; 23:20 - I cannot; 24:12 - General; Judges 7:14 - his fellow; Jeremiah 1:7 - for thou shalt; Acts 4:20 - we cannot Verse 39 Kirjathhuzothor, a city of streets, Probably Rabbath-Moab, now called Rabba, the capital of the Moabites; and being the royal city, distinguished by its streets. Numbers 22:39 Reciprocal Isaiah 16:12 - when Verse 40 Numbers 23:2, 23:14, 23:30; Genesis 31:54; Proverbs 1:16 Reciprocal Jeremiah 48:35 - him that offereth Verse 41 high placesBamoth baal, "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in Numbers 21:19, 21:20
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, 25:3; Deuteronomy 12:2; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Jeremiah 48:35 utmost Numbers 23:13 Reciprocal 32:38 - Baalmeon; Joshua 13:17 - Bamothbaal; Isaiah 16:12 - when; Jeremiah 19:5 - the high; Micah 6:5 - Shittim