King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.
Complete Jewish Bible:
So Mo'av said to the leaders of Midyan, "This horde will lick up everything around us, the way an ox licks up grass in the field." Balak the son of Tzippor was king of Mo'av at that time.
Berean Standard Bible:
So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
American Standard Version:
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
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}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 25:15
- And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain [was] Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he [was] head over a people, [and] of a chief house in Midian.
Numbers 25:18
- For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
Numbers 31:8
- And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; [namely], Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Numbers 22:7
- And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Jeremiah 48:38
- [There shall be] lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure, saith the LORD.
Judges 11:25
- And now [art] thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,
Numbers 24:17
- I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 22:4
1. **Themes:**
- **Fear of Invasion:** The verse reflects the theme of fear and vulnerability as the Moabites, under King Balak, face the threat of being overrun by the Israelites, who are depicted as numerous and powerful.
- **Strategic Alliance:** The Moabites seek the counsel and support of the Midianites, indicating the importance of alliances in the face of a common enemy.
- **Power of the Divine:** The underlying narrative suggests that the fear of the Moabites and Midianites is not just of the Israelite population but also of the God who is with them, as evidenced by their subsequent attempts to curse Israel through the prophet Balaam.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Israelite Exodus and Wanderings:** This event occurs during the time when the Israelites are wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, on their way to the Promised Land.
- **Moabite-Israelite Relations:** The Moabites are descendants of Lot (Abraham's nephew), and their territory is one that the Israelites are instructed not to conquer, as it was given to Lot's descendants. However, tensions arise due to the large number of Israelites encamped near Moab.
- **Balak's Reign:** Balak, the son of Zippor, is the king of Moab at this time. His reign is characterized by his efforts to neutralize the perceived threat of the Israelites by hiring Balaam to curse them, which ultimately fails as Balaam can only bless Israel under divine command.
- **Cultural Practices:** The metaphor used in the verse ("lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field") reflects ancient Near Eastern agricultural practices and the understanding of how an overwhelming force could consume resources and people in a manner similar to how livestock consume grass.
In summary, Numbers 22:4 captures the strategic and fearful response of the Moabites, led by King Balak, to the perceived threat of the Israelites during a critical period of Israel's history, highlighting themes of fear, diplomacy, and divine power.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4124
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹאָב
Transliteration: Môwʼâb
Pronunciation: mo-awb
Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab. - 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. - Strong's Number: H2205
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֵן
Transliteration: zâqên
Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator. - Strong's Number: H4080
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְיָן
Transliteration: Midyân
Pronunciation: mid-yawn'
Description: the same as מִדְיָן; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants; Midian, Midianite. - Strong's Number: H6951
There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָהָל
Transliteration: qâhâl
Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude. - Strong's Number: H3897
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָחַךְ
Transliteration: lâchak
Pronunciation: law-khak'
Description: a primitive root; to lick; lick (up). - Strong's Number: H5439
There are 282 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבִיב
Transliteration: çâbîyb
Pronunciation: saw-beeb'
Description: or (feminine) סְבִיבָה; from סָבַב; (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around; (place, round) about, circuit, compass, on every side. - Strong's Number: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H3418
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֶרֶק
Transliteration: yereq
Pronunciation: yeh'-rek
Description: from יָרָק (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly, pallor, i.e. hence, the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely, verdure, i.e. grass or vegetation; grass, green (thing). - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - 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. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H6834
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִפּוֹר
Transliteration: Tsippôwr
Pronunciation: tsip-pore'
Description: the same as צִפּוֹר; Tsippor, a Moabite; Zippor. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H6256
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵת
Transliteration: ʻêth
Pronunciation: ayth
Description: from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when.