Numbers 22:18
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But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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 ↗22:18 Some have read Balaam’s reply to this second delegation as his attempt to prompt a more lucrative offer, but his refusal (24:13) weighs against this view. Instead, Balaam seemed determined to obey the Lord and called him my God.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”
But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.