Numbers 22:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Bil'am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because ADONAI refuses to give me permission to go with you."

Berean Standard Bible:

So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

American Standard Version:

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Balaam^{H1109} rose up^{H6965} in the morning^{H1242}, and said^{H559} unto the princes^{H8269} of Balak^{H1111}, Get^{H3212} you into your land^{H776}: for the LORD^{H3068} refuseth^{H3985} to give me leave^{H5414} to go^{H1980} with you.

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Commentary for Numbers 22:13

1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Sovereignty:** The verse emphasizes that God's will supersedes human desires and plans. Balaam's inability to go with the princes of Balak is a direct result of God's refusal, highlighting the theme of divine sovereignty over human affairs.
- **Obedience to God:** Balaam demonstrates obedience to God's command, despite the potential benefits of accompanying the princes. This illustrates the importance of obeying God's will, even when it conflicts with personal gain or the requests of influential people.
- **Prophetic Role:** Balaam's role as a prophet is underscored. He acts as an intermediary between God and the people, delivering God's message regardless of his own interests or the expectations of others.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Israelite Journey:** Numbers 22:13 occurs during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. The events take place after the exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
- **Balak and Balaam:** Balak, king of Moab, fears the approaching Israelites and seeks to hire Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, to curse them. Balak hopes that a curse will weaken the Israelites and allow the Moabites to defeat them in battle.
- **Balaam's Donkey:** The narrative is part of the larger Balaam story, which includes the famous episode of Balaam's donkey speaking to him. This event occurs shortly after the verse in question, as Balaam is on his way to meet Balak's princes.
- **Israel's Reputation:** The Israelites' reputation as a people under God's protection and favor is growing, causing fear among neighboring nations. This context sets the stage for Balak's attempts to use supernatural means to counteract the perceived threat of Israel.

In summary, Numbers 22:13 reflects the themes of divine sovereignty, obedience to God, and the role of prophecy within the historical context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and the Moabite king Balak's attempts to thwart their progress through the prophet Balaam.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1109
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּלְעָם
   Transliteration: Bilʻâm
   Pronunciation: bil-awm'
   Description: probably from בַּל and עַם; not (of the) people, i.e. foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine; Balaam, Bileam.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6965
   There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קוּם
   Transliteration: qûwm
   Pronunciation: koom
   Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising).
   
3. Strong's Number: H1242
   There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֹּקֶר
   Transliteration: bôqer
   Pronunciation: bo'-ker
   Description: from בָּקַר; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning; ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8269
   There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׂר
   Transliteration: sar
   Pronunciation: sar
   Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1111
   There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּלָק
   Transliteration: Bâlâq
   Pronunciation: baw-lawk'
   Description: from בָּלַק; waster; Balak, a Moabitish king; Balak.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
8. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3985
    There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָאֵן
    Transliteration: mâʼên
    Pronunciation: maw-ane'
    Description: a primitive root; to refuse; refuse, [idiom] utterly.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1980
    There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָלַךְ
    Transliteration: hâlak
    Pronunciation: haw-lak'
    Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.