Numbers 23 Commentary: God's Unwavering Blessing
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?
And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.
And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken?
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?
And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
Numbers 23 tells the story of Balak, the king of Moab, hiring Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse the Israelites. However, God intervenes, turning Balaam's intended curses into powerful blessings. This chapter highlights God's sovereignty, his unwavering commitment to his promises, and the futility of opposing his will. Let's delve deeper into this fascinating narrative.
The Setup: Altars and Expectations (23:1-3)
Upon arriving, Balaam instructed Balak to build seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for sacrifice (Numbers 23:1). This elaborate preparation reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of seeking divine favor through ritual offerings. After the sacrifices were made (Numbers 23:2), Balaam requested Balak to remain while he sought a message from the Lord on a barren hill (Numbers 23:3). What's striking here is that Balaam, while acknowledging that he could only speak what the Lord allowed, was still consulted by Balak. Balak, in his desperation, seemed to disregard the power of the God of Israel, whom he sought to overcome.
The First Oracle: A Blessing Declared (23:4-10)
God met with Balaam and placed a message in his mouth to deliver to Balak, who was standing by his burnt offering with the Moabite officials (Numbers 23:4-6). Balaam then delivered the first of four poetic oracles, each a powerful blessing on Israel. He acknowledged that he had been summoned to curse Israel (Numbers 23:7), but questioned how he could curse those whom God had not cursed (Numbers 23:8). Balaam recognized Israel's vast numbers and declared that even association with Israel in death was a blessing (Numbers 23:10). This first oracle sets the stage for the entire chapter, emphasizing God's protection and favor upon his chosen people.
Balak's Disappointment and Balaam's Resolve (23:11-12)
Balak was understandably frustrated. He had hired Balaam to curse his enemies, not bless them! "I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them!" (Numbers 23:11). Balaam's response was firm: "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?" (Numbers 23:12). Balaam's unwavering commitment to speaking only God's word, even when it contradicted the desires of his employer, demonstrates the power and authority of God.
A Change of Scenery, A Repeated Blessing (23:13-17)
Unwilling to accept defeat, Balak attempted a new strategy: a change of location. He took Balaam to Lookout Field on top of Mount Pisgah, where they repeated the ritual of building altars and offering sacrifices (Numbers 23:13-14). Again, Balaam sought the Lord, and again, God placed a message in his mouth (Numbers 23:15-16). This time, Balak even inquired about the Lord's message (Numbers 23:17), perhaps hoping for a different outcome.
The Second Oracle: God's Immutable Nature (23:18-20)
Balaam's second oracle began with a direct address to Balak: "Balak, get up and listen; son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!" (Numbers 23:18). He then proclaimed a glorious truth about God's immutable nature (Numbers 23:19). Because God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19, NIV). God had decreed blessing for Israel, and nothing could alter that. "I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it" (Numbers 23:20).
No Enchantment Against Jacob (23:21-26)
Balaam continued by declaring that God had brought Israel out of Egypt and that they possessed the strength of a wild ox (Numbers 23:22). Furthermore, he asserted that "no enchantment can work against Jacob, no divination against Israel" (Numbers 23:23). All the magic and trickery that Balak was trying to employ were useless against God's chosen people. Balak, in frustration, told Balaam to say nothing at all if he couldn't curse Israel (Numbers 23:25). But Balaam, recognizing he served a higher King, affirmed that he would speak only what the Lord commanded (Numbers 23:26).
A Third Attempt, A Futile Hope (23:27-30)
Despite the repeated failures, Balak persisted. Perhaps driven by desperation or a flawed understanding of divine power, he suggested a third location, hoping it would be "agreeable to God" for Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 23:27). This reveals a common misconception in the ancient Near East, where people often believed that gods had power over specific geographical areas. Balak's continued attempts underscore the futility of trying to manipulate God or circumvent his will.
Numbers 23 is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty, his faithfulness to his promises, and the ultimate protection he provides for his people. It serves as a reminder that no matter what obstacles we face, God's blessing prevails.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?
And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.
And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken?
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?
And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
Numbers 23 tells the story of Balak, the king of Moab, hiring Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse the Israelites. However, God intervenes, turning Balaam's intended curses into powerful blessings. This chapter highlights God's sovereignty, his unwavering commitment to his promises, and the futility of opposing his will. Let's delve deeper into this fascinating narrative.
The Setup: Altars and Expectations (23:1-3)
Upon arriving, Balaam instructed Balak to build seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for sacrifice (Numbers 23:1). This elaborate preparation reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of seeking divine favor through ritual offerings. After the sacrifices were made (Numbers 23:2), Balaam requested Balak to remain while he sought a message from the Lord on a barren hill (Numbers 23:3). What's striking here is that Balaam, while acknowledging that he could only speak what the Lord allowed, was still consulted by Balak. Balak, in his desperation, seemed to disregard the power of the God of Israel, whom he sought to overcome.
The First Oracle: A Blessing Declared (23:4-10)
God met with Balaam and placed a message in his mouth to deliver to Balak, who was standing by his burnt offering with the Moabite officials (Numbers 23:4-6). Balaam then delivered the first of four poetic oracles, each a powerful blessing on Israel. He acknowledged that he had been summoned to curse Israel (Numbers 23:7), but questioned how he could curse those whom God had not cursed (Numbers 23:8). Balaam recognized Israel's vast numbers and declared that even association with Israel in death was a blessing (Numbers 23:10). This first oracle sets the stage for the entire chapter, emphasizing God's protection and favor upon his chosen people.
Balak's Disappointment and Balaam's Resolve (23:11-12)
Balak was understandably frustrated. He had hired Balaam to curse his enemies, not bless them! "I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them!" (Numbers 23:11). Balaam's response was firm: "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?" (Numbers 23:12). Balaam's unwavering commitment to speaking only God's word, even when it contradicted the desires of his employer, demonstrates the power and authority of God.
A Change of Scenery, A Repeated Blessing (23:13-17)
Unwilling to accept defeat, Balak attempted a new strategy: a change of location. He took Balaam to Lookout Field on top of Mount Pisgah, where they repeated the ritual of building altars and offering sacrifices (Numbers 23:13-14). Again, Balaam sought the Lord, and again, God placed a message in his mouth (Numbers 23:15-16). This time, Balak even inquired about the Lord's message (Numbers 23:17), perhaps hoping for a different outcome.
The Second Oracle: God's Immutable Nature (23:18-20)
Balaam's second oracle began with a direct address to Balak: "Balak, get up and listen; son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!" (Numbers 23:18). He then proclaimed a glorious truth about God's immutable nature (Numbers 23:19). Because God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19, NIV). God had decreed blessing for Israel, and nothing could alter that. "I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it" (Numbers 23:20).
No Enchantment Against Jacob (23:21-26)
Balaam continued by declaring that God had brought Israel out of Egypt and that they possessed the strength of a wild ox (Numbers 23:22). Furthermore, he asserted that "no enchantment can work against Jacob, no divination against Israel" (Numbers 23:23). All the magic and trickery that Balak was trying to employ were useless against God's chosen people. Balak, in frustration, told Balaam to say nothing at all if he couldn't curse Israel (Numbers 23:25). But Balaam, recognizing he served a higher King, affirmed that he would speak only what the Lord commanded (Numbers 23:26).
A Third Attempt, A Futile Hope (23:27-30)
Despite the repeated failures, Balak persisted. Perhaps driven by desperation or a flawed understanding of divine power, he suggested a third location, hoping it would be "agreeable to God" for Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 23:27). This reveals a common misconception in the ancient Near East, where people often believed that gods had power over specific geographical areas. Balak's continued attempts underscore the futility of trying to manipulate God or circumvent his will.
Numbers 23 is a powerful testament to God's sovereignty, his faithfulness to his promises, and the ultimate protection he provides for his people. It serves as a reminder that no matter what obstacles we face, God's blessing prevails.