Numbers 23:26

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

Complete Jewish Bible:

However, Bil'am answered Balak, "Didn't I warn you that I must do everything ADONAI says?"

Berean Standard Bible:

But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”

American Standard Version:

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh, that I must do?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But Balaam^{H1109} answered^{H6030} and said^{H559} unto Balak^{H1111}, Told^{H1696} not I thee, saying^{H559}, All that the LORD^{H3068} speaketh^{H1696}, that I must do^{H6213}?

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 23:26

1. Themes of Numbers 23:26:
- Divine Sovereignty: The verse emphasizes that Balaam can only speak what God commands, highlighting the theme of God's ultimate authority over human affairs.
- Prophetic Obedience: Balaam reiterates his commitment to follow God's will, even if it contradicts the desires of powerful individuals like Balak, illustrating the importance of obedience to divine instruction.
- Blessing vs. Curse: The larger narrative from which this verse is taken deals with the tension between Balak's desire for Balaam to curse the Israelites and Balaam's inability to do so because God has determined to bless them.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the story of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet whom Balak, king of Moab, hired to curse the Israelites who were camped near Moabite territory during their journey to the Promised Land.
- The Moabites feared the Israelites because of their large numbers and their recent victories over other nations.
- Despite Balak's insistence and the financial incentive, Balaam could not curse the Israelites because God had decided to bless them, demonstrating God's protection over His people and His ability to use even pagan prophets to fulfill His purposes.
- This event occurs during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, a period between their Exodus from Egypt and their entry into Canaan, which is marked by testing, rebellion, and God's provision and guidance.

In summary, Numbers 23:26 reflects the themes of God's sovereignty and the necessity of prophetic obedience within the historical context of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land, as they encounter opposition from neighboring nations like Moab.

*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: H6030
   There are 317 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָנָה
   Transliteration: ʻânâh
   Pronunciation: aw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce; give account, afflict (by mistake for עָנָה), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for עָנָה), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also בֵּית עֲנוֹת, בֵּית עֲנָת.
   
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: 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
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: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.