Numbers 23:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Bil'am made his pronouncement: "Get up, Balak, and listen! Turn your ears to me, son of Tzippor!

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.

American Standard Version:

And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he took up^{H5375} his parable^{H4912}, and said^{H559}, Rise up^{H6965}, Balak^{H1111}, and hear^{H8085}; hearken^{H238} unto me, thou son^{H1121} of Zippor^{H6834}:

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Commentary for Numbers 23:18

1. Themes:
- Prophecy and Divine Authority: The verse emphasizes the prophetic role and the authority with which the prophet speaks, as Balaam is about to deliver a message from God.
- Obedience and Attentiveness: Balak is commanded to rise and listen attentively, highlighting the importance of being receptive to divine messages.
- The Sovereignty of God: Balaam's speech underscores that God's plans cannot be manipulated or altered by human desires or actions.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is set during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land.
- Balak, king of Moab, fearful of the Israelites' numbers and power, seeks to hire Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse the Israelites.
- Despite Balak's intentions, Balaam can only speak the blessings and words that God puts in his mouth, reflecting God's protection over Israel and the futility of opposing God's will.
- The interaction between Balak and Balaam occurs on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, as the Israelites are encamped nearby.

In summary, Numbers 23:18 is part of a narrative where Balaam, under divine command, speaks blessings over Israel instead of the curses that Balak, the Moabite king, sought to obtain. This moment in the text serves to reinforce the theme of God's unassailable sovereignty and the inability of human efforts to thwart divine plans.

*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: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4912
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָשָׁל
   Transliteration: mâshâl
   Pronunciation: maw-shawl'
   Description: apparently from מָשַׁל in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse); byword, like, parable, proverb.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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).
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
7. Strong's Number: H238
   There are 389 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָזַן
   Transliteration: ʼâzan
   Pronunciation: aw-zan'
   Description: a primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a denominative from אֹזֶן; to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen; give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See אָזַן.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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.