Numbers 23:4
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and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
"And God came to meet Balaam," who thought it necessary, as a true hariolus, to call the attention of God to the altars which had been built for Him, and the sacrifices that had been offered upon them. And God made known His will to him, though not in a natural sign of doubtful signification. He put a very distinct and unmistakeable word into his mouth, and commanded him to make it known to the king.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have Balak and Balaam busy at work to do Israel a mischief, and, for ought that appears, neither Moses nor the elders of Israel know any thing of the matter, nor are in a capacity to break the snare; but God, who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, baffles the attempt, without any intercession or contrivance of theirs. Here is, I. The first attempt to curse Israel. 1. The preparation made for it by sacrifice (Num 23:1-3). 2. The contrary instruction God gave Balaam (Num 23:4, Num 23:5). 3. The blessing Balaam was compelled to pronounce upon Israel, instead of a curse (Num 23:7-10). 4. The great disappointment of Balak (Num 23:11, Num 23:12). II. The second attempt, in the same manner made, and in the same manner frustrated (Num 23:13-26). III. Preparations made for a third attempt (Num 23:27-30), the issue of which we have in the next chapter.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
not by works, so that no one can boast.
I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”