Numbers 23:6

Not grace into his heart, nor the fear of God within him, but suggested to him what to say; impressed it strongly on him, that he could not forget it, and with such power and weight, that he was obliged to deliver it: and said, return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak; that is, unto him, and what is expressed in Numbers 22:7. Numbers 23:6 Ver. 6. And he returned unto him,.... Immediately, as soon as he was told what to say: and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice; continued in his devotions, hoping for success, and waiting for Balaam's return: he and all the princes of Moab; not only those that were sent to Balaam, but perhaps all the princes of the kingdom who were got together on this occasion, and by reason of the imminent danger they apprehended the nation was in on account of Israel. Numbers 23:7 Ver. 7. And he took up his parable, and said,....

As before; Numbers 23:6 and the princes of Moab with him; Jarchi observes, that before it is said, all the princes of Moab, but not so here; for when they saw there was no hope of succeeding, some of them went away, and only some were left: and Balak said unto him, what hath the Lord spoken? being in haste to know what it was, whether agreeable or not.

23:1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffered him to do. He pronounces them happy in their distinction from the rest of the nations. Happy in their numbers, which made them both honourable and formidable. Happy in their last end. Death is the end of all men; even the righteous must die, and it is good for us to think of this with regard to ourselves, as Balaam does here, speaking of his own death. He pronounces the righteous truly blessed, not only while they live, but when they die; which makes their death even more desirable than life itself.

But there are many who desire to die the death of the righteous, but do not endeavour to live the life of the righteous; gladly would they have an end like theirs, but not a way like theirs. They would be saints in heaven, but not saints on earth. This saying of Balaam's is only a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only a wish for the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quiet their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of salvation, by which a sinner can be righteous before God.

And he returned unto him,.... Immediately, as soon as he was told what to say: and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice; continued in his devotions, hoping for success, and waiting for Balaam's return: he and all the princes of Moab; not only those that were sent to Balaam, but perhaps all the princes of the kingdom who were got together on this occasion, and by reason of the imminent danger they apprehended the nation was in on account of Israel.

God met Balaam - God served His own purposes through the arts of Balaam, and manifested His will through the agencies employed to seek it, dealing thus with Balaam in an exceptional manner. To God's own people auguries were forbidden Leviticus 19:26 . I have prepared seven altars - And therefore Balaam expected that God on His part would do what was desired by the donor; compare Numbers 22:15 note.

"And God came to meet Balaam," who thought it necessary, as a true hariolus, to call the attention of God to the altars which had been built for Him, and the sacrifices that had been offered upon them. And God made known His will to him, though not in a natural sign of doubtful signification. He put a very distinct and unmistakeable word into his mouth, and commanded him to make it known to the king.

[Bible] 22:36. And when Balac heard it he came forth to meet him in a town of the Moabites, that is situate in the uttermost borders of Arnon. 22:37. And he said to Balaam: I sent messengers to call thee, why didst thou not come immediately to me? was it because I am not able to reward thy coming? 22:38. He answered him: Lo, here I am: shall I have power to speak any other thing but that which God shall put in my mouth? 22:39. So they went on together, and came into a city, that was in the uttermost borders of his kingdom. 22:40. And when Balac had killed oxen and sheep, he sent presents to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 22:41. And when morning was come, he brought him to the high places of Baal, and he beheld the uttermost part of the people. Numbers Chapter 23 Balaam, instead of cursing Israel, is obliged to bless them, and prophesy good things of them. 23:1. And Balaam said to Balac: Build me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams. 23:2. And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they laid together a calf and a ram upon every altar. 23:3. And Balaam said to Balac: Stand a while by thy burnt offering, until I go, to see if perhaps the Lord will meet me, and whatsoever he shall command, I will speak to thee. 23:4. And when he was gone with speed, God met him. And Balaam speaking to him, said: I have erected seven altars, and have laid on everyone a calf and a ram. 23:5. And the Lord put the word in his mouth, and said: Return to Balac, and thus shalt thou speak. 23:6. Returning he found Balac standing by his burnt offering, with all the princes of the Moabites: 23:7. And taking up his parable, he said: Balac king of the Moabites hath brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east: Come, said he, and curse Jacob: make haste and detest Israel. 23:8. How shall I curse him, whom God hath not cursed? By what means should I detest him, whom the Lord detesteth not?

[Reformed Biblical] ch places. Numbers 23:4 ## God met Balaam, not to comply with Balaam’s charms, nor to gratify, but to oppose, his wicked desires, and to fierce him against his own inclination and interest to utter the following words. ## A bullock and a ram, which I pray thee accept, and give me leave to curse thy people, as their abundant wickedness deserves. Numbers 23:5 He suggested what he should say, even those words, Num_23:8- 10. Numbers 23:6 Numbers 23:7 ## He took up, to wit, into his mouth; he expressed or spoke. ## His parable, i.e. his oracular and prophetical speech; which he calls a parable , because of the weightiness of the matter, and the majesty and smartness of the expressions which is usual in parables. ## From Aram; from Aram , Naharaim, or Mesopotamia, Deu_23:4. See Gen_10:22. Aram lay ## towards the mountains of the east: the east was infamous for charmers or soothsayers, Isa_2:6. ## Jacob; the posterity of Jacob, i.e. Israel, as it here follows. Numbers 23:8 God hath not cursed, but blessed Israel, and therefore it is a vain and ridiculous attempt for me to curse them in spite of God. Numbers 23:9 ## From the top of the rocks, upon which I now stand, I see the people, according to thy desire, Num_22:41, but cannot improve that sight to the end for which thou didst design it, to wit, to curse them.