Deep Dive

Numbers 22:13

A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →

So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

Deep diveReferences (4)

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 13

At this chapter begins the famous story of Balak and Balaam, their attempt to curse Israel, and the baffling of that attempt; God's people are long afterwards told to remember what Balak the king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, that they might know the righteousness of the Lord, Mic 6:5. In this chapter we have, I. Balak's fear of Israel, and the plot he had to get them cursed (Num 22:1-4). II. The embassy he sent to Balaam, a conjurer, to fetch him for that purpose, and the disappointment he met with in the first embassy (Num 22:5-14). III. Balaam's coming to him upon his second message (Num 22:15-21). IV. The opposition Balaam met with by the way (Num 22:22-35). V. The interview at length between Balak and Balaam (Num 22:36, etc.).

Open source ↗

Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 13

בִּלְעָם (Bilʻâm, H1109) — Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) בָּלָק (Bâlâq, H1111) — Balak, a Moabitish king יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָאֵן (mâʼên, H3985) — to refuse נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

Open source ↗

Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Deuteronomy 23:5rank 2

Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Numbers 22:14rank 2

And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Your reflection

My Journey
Read
Library