Chapter 22

1
the children Num 21:20, Num 33:48-50, Num 36:13; Deut 34:1, Deut 34:8

on this side Num 32:19, Num 34:15; Deut 1:5, Deut 3:8; Josh 3:16


2
Num 21:3, Num 21:20-35; Judg 11:25


3
Exod 15:15; Deut 2:25; Josh 2:10-11, Josh 2:24, Josh 9:24; Ps 53:5; Isa 23:5


4
elders Num 22:7, Num 25:15-18, Num 31:8; Josh 13:21-22

Now shall Num 24:17; Jer 48:38

And Balak Num 22:2; Judg 11:25


5
sent Deut 23:4; Josh 13:22, Josh 24:9; Neh 13:1-2; Mic 6:5; 2Pet 2:15-16, son of Bosor, Jude 1:11; Rev 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 manuscripts (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 Deut 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. Num 23:7; Deut 23:4

they cover Gen 13:16; Exod 1:7-10; Ps 105:24

face Heb. eye


6
curse me Num 23:7-8, Num 24:9; Gen 12:3, Gen 27:29; Deut 23:4; Josh 24:9; 1Sam 17:43; Neh 13:2; Ps 109:17-18

I wot 1Kgs 22:6, 1Kgs 22:8, 1Kgs 22:13; Ps 109:28; Prov 26:2; Isa 47:12-13; Ezek 13:6; Acts 8:9-10, Acts 16:16


7
rewards of divination 1Sam 9:7-8; Isa 56:11; Ezek 13:19; Mic 3:11; Rom 16:18; 1Tim 6:9-10; Titus 1:11; 2Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11


8
Num 22:19-20, Num 12:6, Num 23:12; Jer 12:2; Ezek 33:31


9
God Num 22:20; Gen 20:3, Gen 31:24, Gen 41:25; Dan 2:45, Dan 4:31-32; Matt 7:22, Matt 24:24; John 11:51

What men Gen 3:9-11, Gen 4:9, Gen 16:8; Exod 4:2; 2Kgs 20:14-15


10
Num 22:4-6


11
able to overcome them Heb. prevail in fighting against them, Num 22:11


12
Thou shalt Num 22:20; Job 33:15-17; Matt 27:19

thou shalt not curse Num 22:19, Num 23:3, Num 23:13-15, Num 23:19, Num 23:23; Mic 6:5

for they Num 23:20; Gen 12:2, Gen 22:16-18; Deut 23:5, Deut 33:29; Ps 144:15, Ps 146:5; Rom 4:6-7, Rom 11:29; Eph 1:3


13
for the Lord Num 22:14; Deut 23:5


14
Balaam refuseth Num 22:13, Num 22:37


15
princes Num 22:7-8; Acts 10:7-8


16
Let nothing etc. Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc. Num 22:16


17
I will promote Num 24:11; Deut 16:9; Esth 5:11, Esth 7:9; Matt 4:8-9, Matt 16:26

and I will do Num 23:2-3, Num 23:29-30; Matt 14:7

come Num 22:6

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 Ζschines 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.


18
If Balak Num 24:13; Titus 1:16

I cannot Num 23:26, Num 24:13; 1Kgs 22:14; 2Chr 18:13; Dan 5:17; Acts 8:20


19
Num 22:7-8; 1Tim 6:9-10; 2Pet 2:3, 2Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11


20
God Num 22:9

If the men 1Sam 8:5-9, 1Sam 12:12-19; Ps 81:12; Ezek 14:2-5; 2Thess 2:9-12

but yet Num 22:35, Num 23:12, Num 23:26, Num 24:13; Ps 33:10-11, Ps 78:30-31; Isa 37:29; Hos 13:11


21
Prov 1:15-16


22
God's 2Kgs 10:20; Hos 1:4

and the angel Num 22:35; Gen 48:15-16; Exod 3:2-6; Hos 12:4-5

stood Num 22:32; Exod 4:24; Lam 2:4


23
the ass saw 2Kgs 6:17; 1Chr 21:16; Dan 10:7; Acts 22:9; 1Cor 1:27-29; 2Pet 2:16; Jude 1:11

the ass turned Jer 8:7


25
crushed Balaam's Job 5:13-15; Isa 47:12


26
where was no way Isa 26:11; Hos 2:6


27
and Balaam's anger Prov 14:16, Prov 27:3-4


28
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. Exod 4:11; Luke 1:37; 1Cor 1:19; 2Pet 2:16

What have I Rom 8:22


29
for now would Prov 12:10, Prov 12:16; Eccl 9:3


30
the ass said 2Pet 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. 1Cor 1:27-28


31
opened Num 24:4 *marg. Num 24:16; Gen 21:19; 2Kgs 6:17-20; 1Chr 21:16; Luke 24:16, Luke 24:31; Acts 26:18

bowed down Exod 34:8; Ps 9:20; John 18:6

fell flat on his face or, bowed himself


32
Wherefore Num 22:28; Deut 25:4; Ps 36:6, Ps 145:9, Ps 147:9; Jonah 4:11

withstand thee Heb. be an adversary unto thee, Num 22:22

thy way Deut 23:4; Prov 28:6; Mic 6:5; Acts 13:10; 2Pet 2:14-15

before me Num 22:20, Num 22:22, Num 22:35; Exod 3:2-6; Prov 14:2, Prov 28:18


33
surely Num 14:37, Num 16:33-35; 1Kgs 13:24-28


34
I Have sinned Exod 9:27, Exod 10:16-17; 1Sam 15:24, 1Sam 15:30, 1Sam 24:17, 1Sam 26:21; 2Sam 12:13; Job 34:31-32; Ps 78:34; Matt 27:4-5

if it displease thee Heb. be evil in thine eyes, Num 22:12, Num 11:1; 1Chr 21:7; Prov 24:18 *marg.

I will get Job 34:31-32


35
Go Num 22:20; Ps 81:12; Isa 37:26-29; 2Thess 2:9-12

I shall speak Num 22:20-21


36
went Gen 14:17, Gen 18:2, Gen 46:29; Exod 18:7; 1Sam 13:10; Acts 28:15

the border Num 21:13-14; Deut 2:24, Deut 3:8; Judg 11:18; Isa 16:2; Jer 48:20


37
I am not able, Num 22:16-17, Num 24:11; Ps 75:6; Matt 4:8-9; Luke 4:6; John 5:44


38
have I Num 22:18; Ps 33:10, Ps 76:10; Prov 19:21; Isa 44:25, Isa 46:10, Isa 47:12

the word Num 23:16, Num 23:26, Num 24:13; 1Kgs 22:14; 2Chr 18:13


39
Kirjathhuzoth 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. Num 22:39


40
Num 23:2, Num 23:14, Num 23:30; Gen 31:54; Prov 1:16


41
high places Bamoth baal, "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in Num 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. Num 25:2-3; Deut 12:2; 2Chr 11:15; Jer 48:35

utmost Num 23:13


‎