3 And Moab H4124 was sore H3966 afraid H1481 of H6440 the people, H5971 because they were many: H7227 and Moab H4124 was distressed H6973 because of H6440 the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
4 And Moab H4124 said H559 unto the elders H2205 of Midian, H4080 Now shall this company H6951 lick up H3897 all that are round about H5439 us, as the ox H7794 licketh up H3897 the grass H3418 of the field. H7704 And Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 was king H4428 of the Moabites H4124 at that time. H6256
5 He sent H7971 messengers H4397 therefore unto Balaam H1109 the son H1121 of Beor H1160 to Pethor, H6604 which is by the river H5104 of the land H776 of the children H1121 of his people, H5971 to call H7121 him, saying, H559 Behold, there is a people H5971 come out H3318 from Egypt: H4714 behold, they cover H3680 the face H5869 of the earth, H776 and they abide H3427 over against H4136 me:
6 Come H3212 now therefore, I pray thee, curse H779 me this people; H5971 for they are too mighty H6099 for me: peradventure I shall prevail, H3201 that we may smite H5221 them, and that I may drive them out H1644 of the land: H776 for I wot H3045 that he whom thou blessest H1288 is blessed, H1288 and he whom thou cursest H779 is cursed. H779
7 And the elders H2205 of Moab H4124 and the elders H2205 of Midian H4080 departed H3212 with the rewards of divination H7081 in their hand; H3027 and they came H935 unto Balaam, H1109 and spake H1696 unto him the words H1697 of Balak. H1111
8 And he said H559 unto them, Lodge H3885 here this night, H3915 and I will bring H7725 you word H1697 again, H7725 as the LORD H3068 shall speak H1696 unto me: and the princes H8269 of Moab H4124 abode H3427 with Balaam. H1109
9 And God H430 came H935 unto Balaam, H1109 and said, H559 What men H582 are these with thee?
10 And Balaam H1109 said H559 unto God, H430 Balak H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor, H6834 king H4428 of Moab, H4124 hath sent H7971 unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people H5971 come out H3318 of Egypt, H4714 which covereth H3680 the face H5869 of the earth: H776 come H3212 now, curse H6895 me them; peradventure I shall be able H3201 to overcome H3898 them, and drive them out. H1644
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.