Num 22 | TSK | STEP | Balak's first message for Balaam is refused. His second message obtains him. An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his ass. Balak entertains him. the children. on this side.

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