Num 21:29, Num 22, Num 24, Deu 2:9, 19, 23:3, Judg 3, Rut 4:10 | TSK

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 MSS. (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 De 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.

23:7; De 23:4

they cover.

Ge 13:16; Ex 1:7-10; Ps 105:24

face. Heb. eye.

curse me.

23:7,8; 24:9; Ge 12:3; 27:29; De 23:4; Jos 24:9; 1Sa 17:43; Ne 13:2

Ps 109:17,18

I wot.

1Ki 22:6,8,13; Ps 109:28; Pr 26:2; Isa 47:12,13; Eze 13:6

Ac 8:9,10; 16:16

rewards of divination.

1Sa 9:7,8; Isa 56:11; Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11; Ro 16:18; 1Ti 6:9,10

Tit 1:11; 2Pe 2:15; Jude 1:11

19,20; 12:6; 23:12; Jer 12:2; Eze 33:31

God.

20; Ge 20:3; 31:24; 41:25; Da 2:45; 4:31,32; Mt 7:22; 24:24

Joh 11:51

What men.

Ge 3:9-11; 4:9; 16:8; Ex 4:2; 2Ki 20:14,15

4-6

able to overcome them. Heb. prevail in fighting againstthem.

Balaam, Thou shalt.

20; Job 33:15-17; Mt 27:19

thou shalt not curse.

19; 23:3,13-15,19,23; Mic 6:5

for they.

23:20; Ge 12:2; 22:16-18; De 23:5; 33:29; Ps 144:15; 146:5

Ro 4:6,7; 11:29; Eph 1:3

for the Lord.

14; De 23:5

Balaam refuseth.

13,37

princes.

7,8; Ac 10:7,8

Let nothing, etc. Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc.

I will promote.

24:11; De 16:9; Es 5:11; 7:9; Mt 4:8,9; 16:26

and I will do.

23:2,3,29,30; Mt 14:7

come.

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 Æschines calls [diorizomenen aran ,] "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.

If Balak.

24:13; Tit 1:16

I cannot.

23:26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13; Da 5:17; Ac 8:20

7,8; 1Ti 6:9,10; 2Pe 2:3,15; Jude 1:11

God.

If the men.

1Sa 8:5-9; 12:12-19; Ps 81:12; Eze 14:2-5; 2Th 2:9-12

but yet.

35; 23:12,26; 24:13; Ps 33:10,11; 78:30,31; Isa 37:29; Ho 13:11

Pr 1:15,16

God's.

2Ki 10:20; Ho 1:4

and the angel.

35; Ge 48:15,16; Ex 3:2-6; Ho 12:4,5

stood.

32; Ex 4:24; La 2:4

the ass saw.

2Ki 6:17; 1Ch 21:16; Da 10:7; Ac 22:9; 1Co 1:27-29; 2Pe 2:16

Jude 1:11

the ass turned.

Jer 8:7

crushed Balaam's.

Job 5:13-15; Isa 47:12

where was no way.

Isa 26:11; Ho 2:6

and Balaam's anger.

Pr 14:16; 27:3,4

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.

Ex 4:11; Lu 1:37; 1Co 1:19; 2Pe 2:16

What have I.

Ro 8:22

for now would.

Pr 12:10,16; Ec 9:3

the ass said.

2Pe 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.

1Co 1:27,28

opened.

24:4; *marg:

24:16; Ge 21:19; 2Ki 6:17-20; 1Ch 21:16; Lu 24:16,31; Ac 26:18

bowed down.

Ex 34:8; Ps 9:20; Joh 18:6

fell flat on his face. or, bowed himself.

Wherefore.

28; De 25:4; Ps 36:6; 145:9; 147:9; Jon 4:11

withstand thee. Heb. be an adversary unto thee.

thy way.

De 23:4; Pr 28:6; Mic 6:5; Ac 13:10; 2Pe 2:14,15

before me.

20,22,35; Ex 3:2-6; Pr 14:2; 28:18

surely.

14:37; 16:33-35; 1Ki 13:24-28

I Have sinned.

Ex 9:27; 10:16,17; 1Sa 15:24,30; 24:17; 26:21; 2Sa 12:13

Job 34:31,32; Ps 78:34; Mt 27:4,5

if it displease thee. Heb. be evil in thine eyes.

12; 11:1; 1Ch 21:7; Pr 24:18; *margins

I will get.

Job 34:31,32

Go.

20; Ps 81:12; Isa 37:26-29; 2Th 2:9-12

I shall speak.

20,21

went.

Ge 14:17; 18:2; 46:29; Ex 18:7; 1Sa 13:10; Ac 28:15

the border.

21:13,14; De 2:24; 3:8; Jud 11:18; Isa 16:2; Jer 48:20

I am not able.

16,17; 24:11; Ps 75:6; Mt 4:8,9; Lu 4:6; Joh 5:44

have I.

18; Ps 33:10; 76:10; Pr 19:21; Isa 44:25; 46:10; 47:12

the word.

23:16,26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13

Kirjath-huzoth. 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.

23:2,14,30; Ge 31:54; Pr 1:16

high places.{Bamoth baal,} "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in ch. 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.

25:2,3; De 12:2; 2Ch 11:15; Jer 48:35

utmost.

23:13

Numbers 24

1 Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel.

10 Balak, in anger, dismisses him.

15 He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations.

saw.

22:13; 23:20; 31:16; 1Sa 24:20; 26:2,25; Re 2:14

at other times.

23:3,15

to seek for enchantments. Heb. to the meeting ofenchantments.

23:23

abiding.

5; 2:2-34; 23:9,10; So 6:4,10

the spirit.

11:25-29; 1Sa 10:10; 19:20,23; 2Ch 15:1; Mt 7:22; 10:4,8; Lu 10:20

Joh 11:49-51

he took up.

23:7,18

whose eyes are open hath said. Heb. who had his eyes shut,but now opened.

4,16; 22:31

saw.

12:6; Ge 15:12; Ps 89:19; Da 8:26,27; Ac 10:10,19; 22:17

2Co 12:1-4

falling.

22:31; 1Sa 19:24; Eze 1:28; Da 8:17,18; 10:15,16; Re 1:10,17

as gardens.

Ge 2:8-10; 13:10; So 4:12-15; 6:11; Isa 58:11; Jer 31:12; Joe 3:18

as the trees.{Ahalim,} "lign-aloe trees." This tree, which grows in the East Indies, is described as being eight or ten feet in height, with a stem the thickness of a man's thigh. At the top grows a large tuft of jagged and thick leaves, thick and indented, broad at the bottom, but growing narrower towards the point, and about four feet in length. The blossoms are red, intermingled with yellow, and double like cloves; from which comes a red and white fruit, of the size of a pea, oblong and triangular, with three apartments filled with seed. The tree has a very beautiful appearance; and a forest of them is said to bear a resemblance to a numerous encampment.

Ps 1:3; Jer 17:18

which the.

Ps 104:16; Isa 41:19

as cedar.

Ps 92:12-14; Eze 31:3,4; 47:12

pour.

Ps 68:26; Pr 5:16-18; Isa 48:1

many waters.

Ps 93:3,4; Jer 51:13; Re 17:1,15

his king.

Ezr 4:20; Ps 2:6-10; 18:43; Joh 1:49; Php 2:10,11; Re 19:16

Agag.

1Sa 15:8,9,32,33

his kingdom.

2Sa 5:12; 1Ki 4:21; 1Ch 14:2; Isa 2:2; 9:7; Da 2:44; Re 11:15

God.

21:5; 23:22

shall eat.

14:9; 23:24; De 7:1

break.

Ps 2:9; Isa 38:13; Jer 50:17; Da 6:24

pierce.

De 32:23,42; Ps 21:12; 45:5; Jer 50:9

couched.

Ge 49:9; Job 38:39,40

who shall.

23:24; Job 41:10; Ps 2:12

Blessed.

Ge 12:3; 27:29; Ps 122:6; Mt 25:40,45; Ac 9:5

he smote.

Job 27:23; Eze 21:14,17; 22:13

I called.

22:6,11,17; 23:11; De 23:4,5; Jos 24:9,10; Ne 13:2

I thought.

22:17,37

the Lord.

Mt 19:28-30; Ac 8:20; Php 3:8; Heb 11:24-26; 1Pe 5:2,3; 2Jo 1:8

22:18,38

I will advertise.

17; 31:7-18; Mic 6:5; Re 2:10,14

the latter.

Ge 49:1; Isa 24:22; Jer 48:47; 49:39; Da 2:28; 10:14; Ho 3:5

Ac 2:17; 2Ti 3:1

3,4; 23:7,18; Job 27:1; Mt 13:35

4; 2Sa 23:1,2; 1Co 8:1; 13:2

I shall see him.The Targum of Onkelos translates this passage in the following manner: "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but he is not near. When a king shall arise from the house of Jacob, and the Messiah be anointed from the house of Israel; he shall slay the princes of Moab, and rule over all the children of men." The marginal references will direct the reader to the fulfilment of these remarkable prophecies.

Job 19:25-27; Zec 12:10; Jude 1:11,14,15; Re 1:7

a Star.

Mt 2:2-9; Lu 1:78; 2Pe 1:19; Re 22:16

a Sceptre.

Ge 49:10; Ps 45:6; 78:70-72; 110:2; Isa 9:7; Lu 1:32,33; Heb 1:8

smite the corners of Moab. or, smite through the princes ofMoab.

1Sa 14:38; *marg:

Zec 10:4

Moab.

2Sa 8:2; 2Ki 3:5,26,27; 1Ch 18:2; Jer 48:45

all the children.

Ge 4:25,26; 5:3-29

Seth.

Ps 72:8-11; Re 11:15

Ge 27:29,40; 2Sa 8:14; Ps 60:1; *title

Ps 60:8-12; Isa 34:5; 63:1; Am 9:12

Of Jacob.

Ge 49:10; Ps 2:1-12; 72:10,11; Isa 11:10; Mic 5:2,4; Mt 28:18

1Co 15:25; Eph 1:20-22; Php 2:10,11; Heb 1:8; 1Pe 3:22; Re 19:16

shall destroy.

Ps 21:7-10; Mt 25:46; Lu 19:12,27

the first of the nations. or, the first of the nations thatwarred against Israel.

Ex 17:8,16

his latter end.

Jud 6:3; 1Sa 14:48; 15:3-8; 27:8,9; 30:1,17; 1Ch 4:43; Es 3:1

Es 7:9,10; 9:14

shall be that he perish for ever. or, shall be even todestruction.

Ex 17:14; 1Sa 15:3,8

the Kenites.

Ge 15:19; Jud 1:16; Job 29:18

the Kenite. Heb. Kain. until Asshur shall carry thee awaycaptive. or, how long shall it be ere Asshur carry thee away captive?

Ge 10:11; Ezr 4:2; Ps 83:8; Ho 14:3

when God.

23:23; 2Ki 5:1; Mal 3:2

Chittim.

Ge 10:4; Isa 23:1; Da 7:19,20; 8:5-8,21; 10:20; 11:30

and shall afflict Eber.

Ge 10:21-25; 14:13; Da 9:26,27; Mt 24:15; Lu 20:24; 23:29-31

Joh 11:48

and he also.

Da 2:35,45; 7:23-26; 11:45; Re 18:2-24

11; 31:8; Jos 13:22

Deuteronomy 2:9

Distress not the Moabites. or, Use no hostility againstMoab.

Nu 22:4; Jud 11:17; 2Ch 20:10

Ar.Ar was situated south of the Arnon; and was called by the Greek writers Areopolis, and thought by them to be so named because the inhabitants worshipped [Ares,] or Mars. St. Jerome says that it was destroyed by an earthquake when he was an infant. Burckhardt supposes that the ruins of a small castle called Mehatet el Hadj, may be the site of this ancient city.

5; Nu 21:15,28

the children.

19; Ge 19:36,37; Ps 83:8

Deuteronomy 2:19

5,9; Ge 19:36-38; Jud 11:13-27; 2Ch 20:10

Deuteronomy 23:3

Ammonite.These nations were subjected for their impiety, wickedness, and enmity to Israel, (ver. 4, 5,) to peculiar disgrace; and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites. This did not, however, disqualify them from becoming proselytes; for Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and became one of the progenitors of our Lord.

Ru 4:6,10-22; Ne 4:3,7; 13:1,2,23; Isa 56:3

Judges 3

1 The nations which were left to prove Israel.

5 By communion with them they commit idolatry.

8 Othniel delivered them from Chushan-rishathaim;

12 Ehud from Eglon;

31 and Shamgar from the Philistines.

A.M. 2561. B.C. 1443. An. Ex. Is. 48. the nations.

2:21,22; De 7:22

prove.

De 8:2,16; 2Ch 32:31; Job 23:10; Pr 17:3; Jer 6:27; 17:9,10

Zec 13:9; Joh 2:24; 1Pe 1:7; 4:12; Re 2:23

as had not.

2:10

might know.

Ge 2:17; 3:5,7; 2Ch 12:8; Mt 10:34-39; Joh 16:33; 1Co 9:26,27

Eph 6:11-18; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 2:3; 4:7

to teach.Their fathers fought by a divine power. God taught their hands to war and their fingers to fight, that they might be the instruments of destruction to the wicked nations on whom the curse rested; but now that they had forfeited His favour, they must learn what it is to fight like other men.

five lords.

10:7; 14:4; Jos 13:3; 1Sa 4:1,2; 6:18; 13:5,19-23; 29:2

Canaanites.

4:2,23,24; Ge 10:15-19; Nu 13:29

Sidonians.

10:12; 18:7; Ge 49:13; Jos 11:8-13; 19:28

in mount.

Nu 34:8; De 1:7; 3:9; Jos 11:3; 13:5

to prove.

1; 2:22; Ex 15:25; De 33:8; 1Co 11:19; 2Th 2:9-12

dwelt.

1:29-32; Ps 106:34-38

Canaanites.

Ge 10:15-18; 15:19-21; Ex 3:8,17; De 7:1; Jos 9:1; Ne 9:8

Ex 34:16; De 7:3,4; 1Ki 11:1-5; Ezr 9:11,12; Ne 13:23-27; Eze 16:3

did evil.

12; 2:11-13

the groves.

6:25; Ex 34:13; De 16:21; 1Ki 16:33; 18:19; 2Ki 23:6,14

2Ch 15:16; 24:18; 33:3,19; 34:3,7

A.M. 2591. B.C. 1413. An. Ex. Is. 78. was hot.

2:14,20; Ex 22:24; De 29:20; Ps 6:1; 85:3

he sold.

2:14; 4:9; De 32:30; 1Sa 12:9; Isa 50:1; Ro 7:14

Chushan-rishathaim.

Hab 3:7

Mesopotamia. Heb. Aram-naharaim.{Aram-naharayim,} "Syria of the two rivers," or Mesopotamia, "between the rivers," is a famous province situated between the Tigris and Euphrates. It is called by Arabian geographers, {Maverannaher,} "the country beyond the river;" and is now called Diarbek.

A.M. 2599. B.C. 1405. An. Ex. Is. 86. cried.

15; 4:3; 6:7; 10:10; 1Sa 12:10; Ne 9:27; Ps 22:5; 78:34; 106:41-44

Ps 107:13-19

raised up.

2:16

deliverer. Heb. saviour. Othniel.

1:13

the Spirit.

6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; Nu 11:17; 27:18; 1Sa 10:6; 11:6; 16:13

2Ch 15:1; 20:14; Ps 51:11; 1Co 12:4-11; Heb 6:4

came. Heb. was. Mesopotamia. Heb. Aram.

the land.

30; 5:31; 8:28; Jos 11:23; Es 9:22

Othniel.

9; Jos 15:17; 1Ch 4:13

A.M. 2662. B.C. 1342. An. Ex. Is. 148. did evil.

2:19; Ho 6:4

and the Lord.

Ex 9:16; 2Ki 5:1; Isa 10:15; 37:26; 45:1-4; Eze 38:16; Da 4:22

Da 5:18; Joh 19:11

the king.

1Sa 12:9

Ammon.

5:14; Ps 83:6

the city.

1:16; De 34:3; Ps 83:7

served.

Le 26:23-25; De 28:40,47,48

A.M. 2679. B.C. 1325. An. Ex. Is. 166. cried unto.

9; Ps 50:15; 78:34; 90:15; Jer 29:12,13; 33:3

a Benjamite. or, the son of Jemini. left-handed. Heb. shutof his right hand. This Hebrew phrase intimates that, either through disease or disuse, he made little or no use of the right hand, but of his left only, and so was the less fit for war, because he would most likely wield a dagger awkwardly: yet God chose this left-handed man to be the minister of his retributive justice. It was God's right hand that gained Israel the victory, Ps 44:3; not the right hand of the instruments he employed.

20:16; 1Ch 12:2

sent a present.

1Sa 10:27; Pr 18:16; 19:6; 21:14; Isa 36:16

two edges.

Ps 149:6; Heb 4:12; Re 1:16; 2:12

upon.

21; Ps 45:3; So 3:8

a very fat.

29; *marg:

1Sa 2:29; Job 15:27; Ps 73:7,19; Jer 5:28; 50:11; Eze 34:20

quarries. or graven images.

Jos 4:20

a secret.

20; 2Ki 9:5,6; Ac 23:18,19

And all that.

Ge 45:1

a summer parlour. Heb. a parlour of cooling.The {âleeyah,} or upper chamber, seems to have been of the same description as the {olëah} of the Arabs, but properly ventilated, described by Dr. Shaw, who says, that to most of their houses there is a smaller one annexed, which sometimes rises one story higher than the house; at other times, it consists of one or two rooms only, and a terrace; while others that are built, as they frequently are, over the porch or gateway, have, if we except the ground floor, which they want, all the conveniences that belong to the house itself. There is a door of communication from them into the gallery of the house; besides another, which opens immediately from a private staircase, down into the porch or street, without giving the least disturbance to the house. In these back houses strangers are usually lodged and entertained; and to them likewise the men are wont to retire from the noise and hurry of their families, to be more at leisure for mediation or diversions.

Am 3:15

I have.

19; 2Sa 12:1-15; 24:12; Mic 6:9

he arose.

Ps 29:1; Jer 10:7

thrust it.

Nu 25:7,8; 1Sa 15:33; Job 20:25; Zec 13:3; 2Co 5:16

the dirt came out. or, it came out at the fundament.

covereth, etc. or, doeth his easement.

1Sa 24:3

the quarries.

he blew.

5:14; 6:34; 1Sa 13:3; 2Sa 20:22; 2Ki 9:13

mountain.

7:24; 17:1; 19:1; Jos 17:15,18

Follow.

4:10; 7:17

the Lord.

7:9,15; 1Sa 17:47

the fords.

12:5; Jos 2:7

lusty. Heb. fat.

17; De 32:15; Job 15:27; Ps 17:10

And the land.

11; 5:31

Shamgar.

5:6,8

an ox goad.This implement, Mr. Maundrell informs us, in Palestine and Syria is of an extraordinary size. He measured several, and "found them about eight feet long; and at the bigger end about six inches in circumference. They were armed at the lesser end with a sharp prickle for driving the oxen; and at the other end with a small paddle of iron, strong and massive, for cleansing the plough from the clay. In the hand of a powerful man such an instrument must be more dangerous and fatal than a sword."

15:15; 1Sa 13:19-22; 17:47,50; 1Co 1:17

also.

2:16

Israel."So part is called Israel."

4:1,3-24; 10:7,17; 11:4-33; 1Sa 4:1"It seems to concern only the country next to the Philistines."

Ruth 4:10

have I.

Ge 29:18,19,27; Pr 18:22; 19:14; 31:10,11; Ho 3:2; 12:12; Eph 5:25

the name.

De 25:6; Jos 7:9; Ps 34:16; 109:15; Isa 48:19; Zec 13:2

ye are witnesses.

Isa 8:2,3; Mal 2:14; Heb 13:4