22 And God's H430 anger H639 was kindled H2734 because he went: H1980 and the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 stood H3320 in the way H1870 for an adversary H7854 against him. Now he was riding H7392 upon his ass, H860 and his two H8147 servants H5288 were with him.
And it came to pass by the way H1870 in the inn, H4411 that the LORD H3068 met H6298 him, and sought H1245 to kill H4191 him.
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten H5221 thine ass H860 these three H7969 times? H7272 behold, I went out H3318 to withstand H7854 thee, because thy way H1870 is perverse H3399 before me:
And he blessed H1288 Joseph, H3130 and said, H559 God, H430 before H6440 whom my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac H3327 did walk, H1980 the God H430 which fed H7462 me all my life long H5750 unto this day, H3117 The Angel H4397 which redeemed H1350 me from all evil, H7451 bless H1288 the lads; H5288 and let my name H8034 be named H7121 on them, and the name H8034 of my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac; H3327 and let them grow H1711 into a multitude H7230 in the midst H7130 of the earth. H776
And the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto him in a flame H3827 of fire H784 out of the midst H8432 of a bush: H5572 and he looked, H7200 and, behold, the bush H5572 burned H1197 with fire, H784 and the bush H5572 was not consumed. H398 And Moses H4872 said, H559 I will now turn aside, H5493 and see H7200 this great H1419 sight, H4758 why H4069 the bush H5572 is not burnt. H1197 And when the LORD H3068 saw H7200 that he turned aside H5493 to see, H7200 God H430 called H7121 unto him out of the midst H8432 of the bush, H5572 and said, H559 Moses, H4872 Moses. H4872 And he said, H559 Here am I. And he said, H559 Draw not nigh H7126 hither: H1988 put off H5394 thy shoes H5275 from off thy feet, H7272 for the place H4725 whereon H834 thou standest H5975 is holy H6944 ground. H127 Moreover he said, H559 I am the God H430 of thy father, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 the God H430 of Isaac, H3327 and the God H430 of Jacob. H3290 And Moses H4872 hid H5641 his face; H6440 for he was afraid H3372 to look H5027 upon God. H430
Behold, I send H7971 an Angel H4397 before H6440 thee, to keep H8104 thee in the way, H1870 and to bring H935 thee into the place H4725 which I have prepared. H3559
And Jehu H3058 said, H559 Proclaim H6942 a solemn assembly H6116 for Baal. H1168 And they proclaimed H7121 it.
He hath bent H1869 his bow H7198 like an enemy: H341 he stood H5324 with his right hand H3225 as an adversary, H6862 and slew H2026 all that were pleasant H4261 to the eye H5869 in the tabernacle H168 of the daughter H1323 of Zion: H6726 he poured out H8210 his fury H2534 like fire. H784
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Call H7121 his name H8034 Jezreel; H3157 for yet a little H4592 while, and I will avenge H6485 the blood H1818 of Jezreel H3157 upon the house H1004 of Jehu, H3058 and will cause to cease H7673 the kingdom H4468 of the house H1004 of Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 22
Commentary on Numbers 22 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 22
At this chapter begins the famous story of Balak and Balaam, their attempt to curse Israel, and the baffling of that attempt; God's people are long afterwards told to remember what Balak the king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, that they might know the righteousness of the Lord, Mic. 6:5. In this chapter we have,
Num 22:1-14
The children of Israel have at length finished their wanderings in the wilderness, out of which they went up (ch. 21:18), and are now encamped in the plains of Moab near Jordan, where they continued till they passed through Jordan under Joshua, after the death of Moses. Now we have here,
Num 22:15-21
We have here a second embassy sent to Balaam, to fetch him over to curse Israel. It were well for us if we were as earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstanding disappointments, as Balak was in pursuing this ill design. The enemies of the church are restless and unwearied in their attempts against it; but he that sits in heaven laughs at them. Observe,
Num 22:22-35
We have here an account of the opposition God gave to Balaam in his journey towards Moab; probably the princes had gone before, or gone some other way, and Balaam had pointed out where he would meet them, or where they should stay for him, for we read nothing of them in this part of our narrative, only that Balaam, like a person of some quality, was attended with his two men-honour enough, one would think, for such a man, he needed not be beholden to Balak for promotion.
Num 22:36-41
We have here the meeting between Balak and Balaam, confederate enemies to God's Israel; but here they seem to differ in their expectations of the success.