King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Bil'am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here."
Berean Standard Bible:
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
American Standard Version:
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Balaam{H1109} said{H559} unto Balak{H1111}, Build{H1129} me here seven{H7651} altars{H4196}, and prepare{H3559} me here seven{H7651} oxen{H6499} and seven{H7651} rams{H352}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 23:29
- And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
Proverbs 15:8
- ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
Jude 1:11
- Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
1 Samuel 15:22
- And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Chronicles 15:26
- And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
Job 42:8
- Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.
Psalms 50:8
- I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 23:1
**Themes:**
Numbers 23:1 continues the narrative of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and Balak, the king of Moab. The themes present in this chapter include:
1. **Divine Sovereignty:** Despite Balaam's initial reluctance to curse the Israelites, as requested by Balak, the narrative emphasizes that God's will prevails, and Balaam can only speak the blessings that God puts in his mouth.
2. **The Power of Blessing:** The passage underscores the power of divine blessing, particularly over the curses that humans might wish to invoke.
3. **Ritual and Sacrifice:** The request for altars and sacrifices reflects the religious practices of the time, where offerings were made to gain divine favor or to discern the divine will.
4. **Israel's Special Status:** The inability to curse Israel reinforces the theme of Israel's chosen status and the protection God provides to His people.
**Historical Context:**
The historical context of Numbers 23:1 is set during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. The Moabites, fearing the vast number of Israelites, seek to hire Balaam to curse them, hoping to weaken or defeat them. This verse occurs after Balaam has been persuaded by Balak to come and curse the Israelites, despite God's initial instruction to Balaam not to go.
Balak's insistence on building altars and offering sacrifices reflects the ancient belief that such actions could influence divine beings. Balaam's request for seven altars and seven pairs of clean animals (oxen and rams) indicates a significant and costly religious undertaking, suggesting the gravity of the situation and the importance of securing divine favor.
In the broader historical context, this narrative would have served to reinforce the Israelites' understanding of their unique relationship with God, their confidence in His protection, and the futility of opposing His plans through magical or religious means.
*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: 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. - 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: 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: H1129
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּנָה
Transliteration: bânâh
Pronunciation: baw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H7651
There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבַע
Transliteration: shebaʻ
Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה. - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H3559
There are 210 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כּוּן
Transliteration: kûwn
Pronunciation: koon
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous); certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed. - Strong's Number: H6499
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּר
Transliteration: par
Pronunciation: par
Description: or פָּר; from פָּרַר; a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof); ([phrase] young) bull(-ock), calf, ox. - Strong's Number: H352
There are 256 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַיִל
Transliteration: ʼayil
Pronunciation: ah'-yil
Description: from the same as אוּל; properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong tree; mighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.