Balak and balaam commentary on the books of the bible

God gives them through blind balaam to open the eyes of balak, the israelites, and bible readers down the centuries to what his purpose is. King james version 1 and the children of israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of moab on this side jordan by jericho. Balaam was a wicked prophet in the bible and is noteworthy because, although he was a wicked prophet, he was not a false prophet. Balaam knew what god had said, but he also knew he wanted. Balaam s donkey sees an angel of god and refuses to move any further. Balak was a king of moab who appears in the old testament in numbers 2224. That is, balaam did hear from god, and god did give him some true prophecies to speak.

And balak the son of zippor was king of the moabites at that time. Go with these men, but speak only what you are told. And balak brought balaam unto the top of peor, that looketh toward jeshimon. And balak the son of zippor saw all that israel had done to the amorites. The story of balaam in the book of numbers provides us with a case study of a. Balaam sends back word that he can only do what yhwh commands, and god has, via a nocturnal dream, told him not to go. Brought balaam unto the top of peor the eminence on the abarim range which stood a little north of nebo, and nearer the israelite encampment, commanding a view of the whole host.

Numbers 2224 english standard version esv balak summons balaam. The tale of a donkey redland baptist church redland. In the night god came to balaam, telling him not to curse the israelites. Balak promised to pay balaam handsomely for bringing evil upon the hebrews, whom he feared. Balaam had specifically seven prepared, in an attempt to counteract the seven altars the jewish forefathers had built. Instead of cursing the israelites, balaam blesses them. Read the bible popular bible stories reading plans search bible words by language bible word meanings spirit and life bible study videos bible commentary pdf files about the bible. Balaams donkey sees an angel of god and refuses to move any further. Build me seven altars to the true god, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to god as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he does, numbers 23. Balaam, son of beor, was a seer from aram, internationally famous for the effectiveness of his blessings and curses. Balaam speaks more oracles, essentially prophesying that the canaanite nations will be defeated by the israelites. When king balak heard of balaam s arrival, he went out to meet him and took the prophet up to the heights sacred to baal.

And according to balak, the king of moab whod really like to defeat and destroy the israelites, balaams work really does the tricki know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed 22. Book of balaam son of beor inscription at tell deir alla. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of israel. This is the place where, if i were god, i would have said, balaam, what part of no didnt you understand.

The events of balaam and balak are found in the bible s book called numbers, chapters 2224. Moab, the land that balak ruled, lay on the east side of the dead sea. And balak did as balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. The spirit of god comes upon balaam and he delivers a third positive prophecy concerning israel. The embassy he sent to balaam, a conjurer, to fetch him for that purpose, and the. According to the lengthy account in the biblical book of numbers chapters 2224, which likely consists of two or more combined literary traditions, balak, the king of moab, is frightened by reports of the approaching.

A son of beor and a prophet of pethor in mesopotamia. He was remembered as a religious leaderdiviner from the area of moab. Dec 22, 2018 balaam, a sorcerer, was summoned by king balak of the moabites to curse the israelites as moses was leading them toward canaan. Then balaam went alone to a solitary place, hoping to receive the word of the lrd. What the bible says about balaam from forerunner commentary balaam son of beor is definitely an oddball among the prophets.

Its the mistakes and errors that balaam made that we consider in this lesson. Balak summons balaam then the people of israel set out and camped in the plains of moab beyond the jordan at jericho. The fourth book of moses, called numbers commentary by robert jamieson chapter 22 num 22. Balaq was a king of moab described in the book of numbers in the hebrew bible, where his dealings with the prophet balaam are recounted.

Balak, king of moab, afraid of the invading israelites who vastly outnumbered moab, asked balaam to come and curse the people of israel. Balak had heard about all the things that god had done for israel, so he needed the very best to go up against the god who could part the red sea and rain manna from heaven every day for 38 years. Balaam offers to return home, but the angel repeats the words of the lord. Sihon, king of the amorites, and og, king of bashan. David guzik commentary on numbers 22, where a god speaks through a donkey to. Balaam the 1901 jewish encyclopedia bible encyclopedia. Balaam says no, and at that moment sees the angel standing before them.

May 11, 2015 commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam may 11, 2015 bill pratt 2 comments the israelites have traveled around the borders of edom and have arrived in the land of moab, across the jordan river from the city of jericho. Fearing for his kingdom, balak summons a balaam, a prophet, to come and curse the israelites people. And moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Revealing the superstition of the human mind, balak had recourse to supernatural help and sought out balaam, the soothsayer of pethora man of divination with. He sent some of the meat to balaam and the officers who were with him. And moab said unto the elders of midian, now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. Lodge here tonight, and i will bring back word to you. A man named balaam suddenly appears in the book of numbers. He is not an israelite but apparently a syrian who lived in pethor, a town situated near the euphrates just south of carchemish numbers 22. To understand balaams prophecies properly, we must delve into his. Once again balaam invited balak s delegation to stay in his home and when he had them settled in their quarters he asked god what to do. Then balak said to balaam, did i not earnestly send to you, calling for you. Balaam apparently cant curse the israelites without receiving the lords permission first. However, balaams heart was not right with god, and eventually he showed his true colors by betraying israel and.

He then counsels balak to send moabite and midianite women into the camp of israel to seduce the men and invite them to the sacrifices of their god numbers 25. This is what king balak of moab was doing, sending for the most renowned curser in the known worldbalaamto come and curse israel. There they built seven altars, upon each of which they sacrificed an ox and a ram. Now balak the son of zippor saw all that israel had done to the amorites. This is part of a larger series on the pentateuch to be found at th. The angel tells balaam that the donkey has saved his life. Balak foresaw that a breach was destined to break into israel from there, and indeed, moses died there. Echoing the bible exactly, the phrase balaam son of beor is found three times in the first four lines of the balaam wall inscription that dates to 750 bc. After a bit of sacrifice, balak then called upon balaam to do what he hired him to do to curse israel, to rob them of their spiritual strength, so they could be defeated in.

This article about balaam, together with other tools, activities, aids and materials and are designed to be used by an individual or a christian bible study. Balak followed balaams advice, and israel fell into sin, worshiping baal of peor and committing fornication with midianite women. Here balaam clearly understood that an angels drawn sword enforced his obedience to speak only gods message to balak. Balaks anger rises to the point where he threatens balaam, but balaam merely offers a prediction of fate. Balak took balaam and brought him up to the high places of baal. Balak and balaam then go to their respective homes. On this journey, balaam s donkey talked with him as he traveled a narrow trail numbers 22. Balak consequently sends higherranking priests and offers balaam honours. Commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam tough. He thought that the curse could take effect upon them there, and he thought,this is the breach that i see. Balak, the king of moab, was scared that he was going to lose his land to them. Balaam continues to press god, and god finally permits him to go but with instructions to say only what he commands. Now when balak heard that balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of moab, which is on the border at the arnon, the boundary of the territory.

Balak s warm promise of reward sounded like music in balaam s ears. Balak, balac all the men of the bible bible gateway. I found the three good commentaries that were not in my own library. His story is in the context of the time of the israelites journey to the promised land. Balaks fear of israel, and the plot he had to get them cursed v. The apostle describes balaams sin here to be, that he ran greedily into an error for. The fascinating story of balak and balaam s failed attempts to curse the jewish people is found in numbers 2224. Balaam son of beor is known to us not only from the hebrew bible but also from an inscription, found in 1967 in jordan, that can be dated to the eighth century b. On his journey to meet the princes of moab, balaam is stopped by an angel of the lord after beating his donkey. Balaam, a nonisraelite prophet described in the old testament num. Find more christian classics for theology and bible study at bible study tools. From fear of the israelites, who were encamped near the confines of his territory, he applied to balaam q. As a part of my bible reading throughout 2020, i am highlighting 5 things from the books of the bible that have stood out to me and taught me here are 5 things i have learnt from the book of numbers the power of gods blessing.

Balak, king of moab, afraid of the invading israelites who vastly outnumbered moab. This angel was an adversary to balaam, because balaam counted him his. Balak, king of moab, having seen the multitudes of israel, and fearing they would attack his country, sent for balaam, who was famous for his supposed supernatural powers, to come and curse them. With bible gateway plus, you gain instant access to a digital bible study library, including complete notes from the niv cultural backgrounds study bible and the new bible commentary. Matthew henrys concise commentary on the bible is available in the public domain. Balak laid a bait, not only for balaams covetousness, but for his pride and ambition. The fascinating story of balak and balaams failed attempts to curse the jewish people, in which a talking donkey and a swordwielding angel also take starring. And moab said to the elders of midian, this horde will now lick up all that is. So he invited a man named balaam to come to moab and curse the israelites. Balaam is a diviner in the torah old testament whose story begins in chapter 22 of the book. But balaams error and the source of his wickedness came from sabotaging the israelites as they entered the promised land. Well send you a new verse every day to download or share. Revealing the superstition of the human mind, balak had recourse to supernatural help and sought out balaam, the soothsayer of pethora man of divination with power to bless and curse, the simon magus of his day.

Balaam advised the moabites on how to entice the people of israel with prostitutes and idolatry. They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me. Balak, the king of moab, asks balaam to curse the israelites after he sees them defeat various nations in battle. In this 5day devotional, learn lessons from balaams life that will challenge you to be more sensitive to the voice of god in your life. Commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam the israelites have traveled around the borders of edom and have arrived in the land of moab, across the jordan river from the city of jericho.

This latter theme is vital to understanding balaam s prophecies. Balaam returned to balak, raised his voice and began to speak. Balaam a free christian bible study resource we hope that this balaam article will provide useful information and ideas for those following a bible study plan. When god speaks through unexpected sources numbers 2224. And though balak was averse from god and his worship, yet he would be easily overruled by balaam, who doubtless told him that it was in vain to make an address to any other than the god of israel, who alone was able. Like balaam, balak also lives to the end of the bible. God speaks through the mouth of the donkey to tell him not to curse the israelites. From there, balaam could see some of the big group of the israelites. A celebrated diviner, of the city pethor, on the euphrates, numbers 22. King balak invited him a second time and promised to give him anything he wanted. The story of balaam son of beor is known mostly from numbers 2224 in the hebrew bible and from the plaster text from tell deir alla sukkoth. For the right fee, hell bless or curse whomever you want.

It is often too easy when reading the books of the law, the torah, to see god as harsh and strict. But, in compliance with gods command balaam, refused to go with the elders. The torah records how, after being thoroughly humiliated by his talking donkey, balaam, the nonjewish sorcerer and prophet commissioned by balak king of moab to curse the jews, found himself incapable of cursing them. Pauls cathedral from author joseph barber lightfoot.

Balaam, a sorcerer, was summoned by king balak of the moabites to curse the israelites as moses was leading them toward canaan. Commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible unabridged. God has certainly spoken to pagans in other biblical narratives, so perhaps balaam is a true believer. Balak, king of moab, hires balaam to curse the israelites, but every time he tries, balaam instead blesses them.

According to this narrative, balak, king of moab, sent messengers to the soothsayer, requesting him to come and pronounce a curse against israel, with whom the moabites were at war, and of whom they stood in dread. At the instigation of balak, at that time king of the moabites, the elders of the two nations were sent to balaam to induce him, by means of a bribe, to pronounce a curse on the advancing hosts of the israelites. Balaam then looks upon the kenites, and amalekites and offers two more predictions of their fates. Now balak, the son of zippor, was king of the moabites at this time.

Numbers 22 english standard version esv balak summons balaam. He could not curse israel directly, so he came up with a plan for israel to bring a curse upon themselves. Even though we are more familiar about balaams donkey talking, did you know that balaam was fool as he even talked to the donkey. The warning of the book of balaam, son of beor, who was a seer of the gods.

Balaam received the spirit of the lord and pronounces a blessing upon jacob. What a wise man learned from an ass bible story for children and adults this famous what a wise man learned from an ass bible story for adults, teens and children about balaam and king balak is a free, printable bible study resource which can be read by teens or adults or used at sunday school for christian children and young kids. Permission was refused, but balaam journeyed to confer further with balak. But upon consulting with god, balaam blesses the israelites instead of cursing them. The story of balaam, referred to by peter 2peter 2. Balak, their king, knew how israel had handled another one of their enemies, the amoritesdescendants of canaan genesis 10. On his journey to meet the princes of moab, balaam is stopped by an angel of the lord after beating his d. At balaam s request, balak builds seven new altars in this high place just for balaam to sacrifice upon. Balak, king of moab, fears an advancing israelthen the children of israel moved, and camped in the plains of moab on the side of the jordan across from jericho.

As they traveled, they encountered two kings who attacked them. Commentary on numbers 22 and the story of the prophet balaam. Balak tried to engage balaam for the purpose of cursing the migrating israelite community. Reprinted with permission from whos who in the hebrew bible the jewish publication society. Introduction while i was preparing to teach on the prophet balaam, i went to the church library to check out some of the best commentaries on the book of numbers. Study guide for numbers 22 by david guzik blue letter bible. Who were balaam and his talking donkey in the bible. Numbers 22 esv balak summons balaam then the people. The narrative relating to balaam is found in numbers 22xxiv. He sent messengers therefore unto balaam the son of beor to pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, behold, there is a people come out from egypt. The king of moab recognized gods power in balaams words, saying, i know that whomever you bless is.