"thou blessest is blessed, and he whom "thou cursest, is cursed." 7. And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Midian departed, with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8. And he said unto them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again as the LORD shall speak unto me." And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9. And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What men are these with thee?" 10. And Balaam said unto Sod," Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11. Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out." 12. And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not lego with them, thou shalt not curse the h people: for they are blessed." 13. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said into the princes of Balak, "Get you into your land for the LORD (0) refuseth to give me leave to go with you." 14. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, "Balaam refuseth to come with us." 15. And Balak sent hyet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus saith Ba lak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto "me: 17. For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatfoever thou sayest unto me: Come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 18. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would "give me his house full of silver and gold, "I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19. Now "therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here "this night, (p) that I may know what the "LORD will say unto me more." 20. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, "If the men come to call thee, "rise up, and go with them; but yet the "word which I shall say unto thee, that "shalt thou do." 21. And Balaam (q) rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22. And God's anger was (r) kindled because he went and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him: Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand : and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way. 24. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust her self unto the wall, and crusht Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What have I "done unto thee, that thou hast smitten (0) v. 13. " Refuseth, &c." So that Balaam did not tell them all that God had said unto him: by suppressing, "that he was not to curse them, for they were blessed," he left himself open to further solicitations. (p) v.19. "That I may know, &c." This desire to have a second communication from God after he had received one that was decisive, shewed too earnest a disposition on Balaam's part to accede to Balak's wishes, and obtain his rewards. It is accordingly reprobated, 2 Pet. ii. 15. where he speaks of persons who are gone astray, following the way of Balaam "the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of "unrighteousness: but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with "man's voice, forbad the madness of the pro"phet." (q) v. 21. "Rose up." i. c. as Mr. Shuckford understands it," of his own accord, with"out waiting for their calling him." 3 Shuckf. 133, 4. (r) v. 22. "Kindled," on account of his inclination to go with the men for the sake of their rewards, after the plain intimation he had received from God to deter him, NUMBERS. "me these three times ?" 29. And Balaam said unto the ass, "Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword "in mine hand, for now would I kill thee." 30. And the ass said unto Balaam, “Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast "ridden ever since I was thine, unto this "day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." 31. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand : and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, "Wherefore hast thou smitten thine r ass these three times? Behold, I went "out to withstand thee, because thy way "is perverse before me. "saw me, and turned from me these three 33. And the ass times: unless she had turned from me, "surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive." 34. And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore if (s) it displease thee, I will get me back "again." 35. And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, "Go with the men: but "only the word that I shall speak unto "thee, that thou shalt speak :" So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36. And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. Balak said unto Balaam, "Did I not ear37. And nestly send unto thee to call thee? "Wherefore camest thou not unto me? "Am I not able indeed to promote thee to "honour?" 38. And Balaam said unto Balak, "Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? "the word that God putteth in my mouth, CHAP. XXIII. "that shall I speak." 39. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth. 40. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. A CHAP. XXIII. ND Balaam said unto Balak, "Bu "me here seven altars, and prepar me here (t) seven oxen, and seven rams." 2. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken and Balak and Balaam (u) offered on ever altar a bullock and a ram. 3. And Balaam said unto Balak, "Stand by thy burnt of "fering, and I will go: peradventure the "LORD will come to meet me: and what "soever he sheweth me, I will tell thee." And he went to an high place. 4. And God met Balaam; and he said unto him, "I have prepared seven altars, and I have "offered upon every altar a bullock, anda ❝ram." 5. And the LORD put a word Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return u "Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.” 6. And he returned unto him, and lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7. 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 "8. How shall I curse, whom God hath "not cursed? or how shall I defy, when "the LORD hath not defied? 9. For from "the top of the rocks I see him, and from "the hills I behold him: lo the people "shall dwell (x) alone, and shall not b "reckoned (y) among the nations. 10. W "can count the dust of Jacob, and "number of the fourth part of Israel? "Let me die the death of the righteous, "and let my last end be like his." 11. 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." 12. And he answered and said, "Must I not take heed "to speak that which the LORD hath put "in my mouth?" 13. And Balak said unto him, "Come, I pray thee, with me, unto another place, from whence thou 86 mayest see them: thou shalt see but the "utmost part of them, and shalt not see "them all and curse me them from "thence." 14. 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. 15. And he r said unto Balak, "Stand here by thy burnt "offering, while I meet the LORD yonder." 16. And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Go again "unto Balak, and say thus." 17. 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?" 18. And he took up his parable, and said, "Rise 66 up Balak, and hear; hearken unto me "thou son of Zippor: 19. God is not a (6 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? "20. Behold, I (z) have received com"mandment to bless; and he hath blessed, " and I cannot reverse it. 21. 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 (a) king is among them. 22. God 66 brought them out of Egypt; he (b) hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. "23. (c) Surely there is no enchantment or (z) v. 20. "Have received commandment," 66 am commanded." 2 Hales, 221. (a) v. 21. "A king," or "their king." i. e. God. 2 Hales, 224. According to Deut. xxxiii. 5. "He (viz. God) was king in "Jeshurun," i. e. Israel. (b) v. 22. "Hath as it were," or "is to "them as." 2 Hales, 224. "against Jacob, neither is there any any divi "nation against Israel: according to this "time it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel, "What hath God wrought! 24. Behold, "the people shall rise up as a (d) 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." 25. And Balak said unto Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them "at all." 26. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, "Told not I thee, saying, "All that the Lord speaketh, that I must "do?" 27. 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." 28. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. 29. And Balaam said unto Balak, "Build me here seven altars, "and prepare me here seven bullocks and "seven rams." 20. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. CHAP. XXIV. the LORD to bless Israel, he went ND when Balaam saw that it pleased AND when sa rad, it went not as at other times to seek for enchantments, but he set his face towards the wilderness. 2. And Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him. 3. And he took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son "of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open, hath said: 4. He hath "said, which heard the words of God, "which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes "open 5. How goodly are thy tents, O "Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! "6. As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river side, as the trees "of lign-aloes which the LORD hath "planted, and as cedar-trees beside the ❝ waters. 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in "many waters, and his king shall be higher then Agag, and his kingdom. "shall be exalted (e). 8. God brought "him forth out of Egypt, he (ƒ) hath as it "were the strength of an unicorn: he "shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce "them through with his arrows. 9. He "couched, he lay down as a lion, and as "a great lion: who shall stir him up? "Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." 10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, "I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou "hast altogether blessed them these three “times. II. Therefore now flee thou to "thy place: I thought to promote_thee "unto great honour: but lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour." (e) v. 7. The Sept. translation of this verse is " a man shall come forth of his seed, and "shall rule over many nations: and his king"dom shall be raised higher than Gog's, and "his kingdom shall be exalted." Gog was the title of the Scythian kings. Philo understands this as a prophecy of the Messiah: Chandl. Def. 30. Dr. Hales adopts nearly the same translation, and points out how the Hebrew words had been corrupted. He also understands it as referring to the Messiah. See the first of Dr. Hales's learned and valuable dissertations. (f). v. 8. "Hath as it were," or "is to him as it were." (g) v. 17. "Shall see," and "shall behold," or see and behold," the future tense in Heb. being often put for the present. (b) v. 17. "A star," "6 a sceptre," i. e. the Messiah." Sheth," or "tumult, unrighte66 ousness, corruption." (i) v. 17. "A sceptre." The same word as in the famous prophecy of Jacob, Gen. xlix. 10. "The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor 66 a lawgiver from between his feet, until "Shiloh come: and unto him shall the gather"ing of the people be." Though the victories of David, about 400 years afterwards, correspond with the successes here foretold, it is not probable he should have been the object of this 12. And Balaam said unto Balak, "Spake "I not also to thy messengers which thou "sentest unto me, saying, 13." If Balak "would give me his house-full of silver " and gold, I cannot go beyond the com"mandment of the LORD, to do either "good or bad of mine own mind; but "what the LORD saith, that will I speak? 14. And now behold, I go unto my "people: come therefore, and I will a "vertise thee, what this people shall do "thy people in the latter days." 15. An he took up his parable, and said, "Balat "the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open, hath said "16. He hath said, which heard the word "of God, and knew the knowledge of the "most High, which saw the vision of the "Almighty, falling into a trance, but having "his eyes open: 17. I (g) shall see him, "but not now: I shall behold him, but "not nigh: there shall come a (b) star "out of Jacob, and a (i) scepter shall "out of Israel; and shall (k) smite the "corners of Moab, and destroy all t prophecy: David, though a type of Christ, no where made the subject of prophecy, reign was not of such importance to mankind in general as to make it likely that he should and according to 2 Pet. i. 20. no prophecy "scripture is of any private interpretation, but "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of pro phecy. Rev. xix. 10. (k) v. 17." Smite, &c." and "destroy, &c." These and the expressions in the following vere possibly refer only to spiritual success; to the prevalence of the Messiah's kingdom, and the establishment of christianity in heathen king doms. In Ps. ii. 8. the extent of Christiany is foretold in similar language: "Desire of m " and I will give thee the heathen for the "inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth "for thy possession ;" and in Ps. lxxii. 8. and Zech. ix. 1o. " his dominion shall be also from "the one sea to the other, and from the flood "unto the world's end;" or they may refer to vengeance to be inflicted in the last ages o the world, at different times after Christ's coming, upon those nations who should ha abandoned or opposed or corrupted his re ligion, part of which vengeance has (perhaps for some years been inflicting, and may be eva now in progress. This period of vengeances repeatedly referred to as one of the characte ristics of the Messiah's kingdom, Ps. . 9 a 30.0 and the "children of Sheth. 18. And (1) Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall "be a possession for his enemies, and Israel (m) shall do (n) valiantly. 19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of (o) the city." 20. And when ne looked on Amalek, he took pa "and shall afflict Ashur, and shall af"flict (s) Eber, and (t) he alfo shall perish "for ever." 25. And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his (u) place and Balak also went his way. CHAP. XXV. able, and said, "Amalek was the first of AND Israel abode in (x) Shittim, and the nations, but his latter end shall be that he (p)perish for ever." 21. And he ooked on the Kenites; and took up his arable, and said, "Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22. Nevertheless, the Kenite shall be "wasted until (q) Ashur shall carry thee "away captive." 23. And he took up his parable, and said, "Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! 24. And ships shall come from the coast of (r) Chittim, "Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's "vessel; and Ps. cx. 5, 6. " The Lord at thy right hand, shall bruise even kings in the day "of his wrath: he shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead "bodies, and smite the heads over divers "countries." If the judgments of God are now abroad upon the earth, and God is visiting the wicked with his punishments, how much does it behove each man to endeavour to lead such a life as may avert his indignation from himself, from his family, and from his country! () v. 18. "Edom," "Seir," i. e. (probably) the opponents of the Messiah, the worshippers of false gods. As these nations were the opponents of God's people the Israelites, and were addicted to idol worship, they are often put to signify any adversaries of the true religion. (m) v. 18." Israel," i. e. (probably) "God's "people, the true worshippers, the Israel of "God; in opposition to the children of "Sheth," in verse 17. (n) v. 18. "Do valiantly," or " gain "strength," "succeed," "prosper." (0) v. 19: "The city," or "the enemy," destroyer, disturber-" the proud," the mighty one of the earth: he that exalteth himself. (p) v. 20. "Perish for ever." This prophecy was effectually executed under God's command in Saul's time. See post, 1 Sam. xv. (q) v. 22. 24. "Ashur," i. e. " Assyria." (r) v. 24. "Chittim." This name was given to any place they could not get to but by sea: it is often applied to the Macedonians; and is equally applicable to the Romans. 1 Wall. 114. the people begun to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2. And they (y) called the people unto the sacri. fices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3. And Israel joined himself unto (z) Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. 4. And the LORD said unto Moses, (a) Take all the heads of "the people, and hang them up before "the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away (s) v. 24. "Eber," i. e. (probably) "countries beyond the Euphrates:" Eber was great grandson of Shem, and from him very many nations, including the Israelites, were descended. See Gen. x. 24 to 32. and Gen. xi. 16 to 25. and it might be to some of these nations in particular, who might then go by the name of Eber, that Balaam here referred. (t) v. 24. « He also,” i. e. the power that shall afflict Ashur and Eber. 2 Hales, 229, 230. (u) v. 25. "To his place." In the course of the same year he was slain by the children of Israel on their expedition against the Midianites. Numb. xxxi. 8. (x) v. 1." Shittim," in the plains of Moab. Numb. xxxiii. 49. B.C. 1452. (y) v. 2. "They," i. e. the daughters of Moab, "the people," i. e. " of Israel." (*) v. 3. "Baal-peor," an idol of the Moabites. The women of Moab drew them into this sin, through the counsel of Balaam. When God commanded Moses to avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, and they spared the women of Midian, Moses blamed them and said, "Have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, "these caused the children of Israel, through the "counsel of Balaam, to commit trespasses against "the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there "was a plague among the congregation of the "Lord." Numb. xxxi. 2. 15. 16. 66 (a) v. 4. "Take, &c." or " speak unto the "heads of the people, and let them slay the men that were joined to Baal-peor, and "hang them up, &c." Kennic. Rem. 70. see the Heb. |