Numbers 22:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But God's anger flared up because he went, and the angel of ADONAI stationed himself on the path to bar his way. He was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

American Standard Version:

And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

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.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 22:22

22:22. Verse: ¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Displeasure:** The verse reflects God's anger towards Balaam for his decision to go with the princes of Moab, despite God's initial instruction not to curse the Israelites.
2. **Divine Intervention:** The angel of the LORD (a theophany, or appearance of God) stands in the way as an adversary to Balaam, illustrating direct divine intervention to oppose Balaam's journey.
3. **Guidance and Protection:** The angel's presence also serves to guide and protect Balaam, despite Balaam's disobedience, which is ironic since Balaam is willfully going against God's command.
4. **Human and Animal Perception:** The narrative highlights a difference in perception between humans and animals; Balaam is initially unaware of the angel, while his donkey can see the angel and responds accordingly.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The events of Numbers 22 occur during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
- **Balaam:** Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet, hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. The Moabites feared the Israelites because of their large numbers and their recent victories.
- **Moabite-Israelite Relations:** The Moabites were related to the Israelites through Lot, Abraham's nephew, but there was tension and conflict between them, as seen in this narrative and elsewhere in the Pentateuch.
- **Cultural Practice:** Hiring a prophet or seer to curse one's enemies was a common practice in the ancient Near East. Balaam's story is unique in that his attempt to curse is thwarted by God, and he ends up blessing Israel instead.

In summary, Numbers 22:22 captures a moment of divine intervention in response to human disobedience, set within the broader context of the Israelites' journey towards Canaan and their interactions with neighboring peoples.

*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: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
2. Strong's Number: H639
   There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַף
   Transliteration: ʼaph
   Pronunciation: af
   Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2734
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָרָה
   Transliteration: chârâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָרַר); to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy; be angry, burn, be displeased, [idiom] earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, [idiom] very, be wroth. See תַּחָרָה.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4397
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
   Transliteration: mălʼâk
   Pronunciation: mal-awk'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3320
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצַב
   Transliteration: yâtsab
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsab'
   Description: a primitive root; to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue; present selves, remaining, resort, set (selves), (be able to, can, with-) stand (fast, forth, -ing, still, up).
   
8. Strong's Number: H1870
   There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
   Transliteration: derek
   Pronunciation: deh'-rek
   Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).
   
9. Strong's Number: H7854
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂטָן
   Transliteration: sâṭân
   Pronunciation: saw-tawn'
   Description: from שָׂטַן; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good; adversary, Satan, withstand.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7392
    There are 75 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָכַב
    Transliteration: râkab
    Pronunciation: raw-kab'
    Description: a primitive root; to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to despatch; bring (on (horse-) back), carry, get (oneself) up, on (horse-) back, put, (cause to, make to) ride (in a chariot, on, -r), set.
    
11. Strong's Number: H860
    There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָתוֹן
    Transliteration: ʼâthôwn
    Pronunciation: aw-thone'
    Description: probably from the same as אֵיתָן (in the sense of patience); a female donkey (from its docility); (she) ass.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8147
    There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
    Transliteration: shᵉnayim
    Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
    Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
    
13. Strong's Number: H5288
    There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נַעַר
    Transliteration: naʻar
    Pronunciation: nah'-ar
    Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).