King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Balak took Bil'am to the top of P'or, overlooking the desert.
Berean Standard Bible:
And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.
American Standard Version:
And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Balak{H1111} brought{H3947} Balaam{H1109} unto the top{H7218} of Peor{H6465}, that looketh{H8259} toward{H6440} Jeshimon{H3452}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 21:20
- And from Bamoth [in] the valley, that [is] in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
Psalms 106:28
- They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 23:28
Numbers 23:28 is situated within the broader narrative of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, and Balak, the king of Moab. Balak fears the Israelites, who are camped near his territory, and he summons Balaam to curse them, hoping to weaken them. However, each time Balak asks Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam instead blesses them, moved by the Spirit of God.
In verse 28, Balak takes Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which looks out over the wastelands of Jeshimon. This location is significant for several reasons. Mount Peor is associated with pagan worship, and later in Israel's history, it becomes a site of apostasy for the Israelites (see Numbers 25). The name "Jeshimon" means "desolation" or "wilderness," which could symbolize the barrenness of Balak's efforts to oppose the will of God. Despite the change of scenery, Balaam's message remains consistent with the divine will; he cannot curse those whom God has blessed.
The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God over human affairs, the futility of opposing God's chosen people, and the tension between pagan practices and the worship of the one true God of Israel. Historically, this event occurs during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, a period marked by tests and trials as they transition from a liberated slave people to a nation with a unique covenant relationship with God. Balaam's prophecies, given under duress from Balak, serve to reinforce God's protection over Israel and His intention to bless them, despite the obstacles they face in their journey.
*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: 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: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - 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: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top. - Strong's Number: H6465
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּעוֹר
Transliteration: Pᵉʻôwr
Pronunciation: peh-ore'
Description: from פָּעַר; a gap; also בַּעַל פְּעוֹר); Peor, a mountain East of Jordan; Baal Peor, (for a deity worshipped there; Peor. See also בֵּית פְּעוֹר. - Strong's Number: H8259
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקַף
Transliteration: shâqaph
Pronunciation: shaw-kaf'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle); appear, look (down, forth, out). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H3452
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְשִׁימוֹן
Transliteration: yᵉshîymôwn
Pronunciation: yesh-ee-mone'
Description: from יָשַׁם; a desolation; desert, Jeshimon, solitary, wilderness.