Numbers23

Balaam, hired by Balak to curse Israel, repeatedly attempts to do so by building altars and offering sacrifices. However, each time the LORD puts words in Balaam's mouth, compelling him to utter blessings and prophecies of Israel's strength and unique status, much to Balak's frustration. Balaam consistently affirms he can only speak what God commands.

Balaam Prepares the First Altar

1
Bil'am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here." ​
2
Balak did as Bil'am said; then Balak and Bil'am offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
3
Bil'am said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering while I go off; maybe ADONAI will come and meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went off to a bare hill. ​
4
God met Bil'am, who said to him, "I prepared the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
5
Then ADONAI put a word in Bil'am's mouth and said, "Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you." ​
6
He went back to him, and there, standing by his burnt offering, he with all the princes of Mo'av,

Balaam’s First Oracle: Israel Blessed

7
he made his pronouncement: "Balak, the king of Mo'av, brings me from Aram, from the eastern hills, saying, 'Come, curse Ya'akov for me; come and denounce Isra'el.' ​
8
"How am I to curse those whom God has not cursed? How am I to denounce those whom ADONAI has not denounced? ​
9
"From the top of the rocks I see them, from the hills I behold them yes, a people that will dwell alone and not think itself one of the nations. ​
10
"Who has counted the dust of Ya'akov or numbered the ashes of Isra'el? May I die as the righteous die! May my end be like theirs!" ​
11
Balak said to Bil'am, "What have you done to me?! To curse my enemies is why I brought you; and, here, you have totally blessed them!" ​
12
He answered, "Mustn't I take care to say just what ADONAI puts in my mouth?"

The Second Attempt to Curse Israel

13
Balak said to him, "All right, come with me to another place where you can see them. You will see only some of them, not all; but you can curse them for me from there." ​
14
He took him through the field of Tzofim to the top of the Pisgah Range, built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar ​
15
Bil'am said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go over there for a meeting."
16
ADONAI met Bil'am, put a word in his mouth and said, "Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you." ​
17
He came to him and stood by his burnt offering, with all the princes of Mo'av. Balak asked him, "What did ADONAI say?"

Balaam’s Second Oracle: God’s Faithfulness

18
Then Bil'am made his pronouncement: "Get up, Balak, and listen! Turn your ears to me, son of Tzippor! ​
19
"God is not a human who lies or a mortal who changes his mind. When he says something, he will do it; when he makes a promise, he will fulfill it ​
20
Look, I am ordered to bless; when he blesses, I can't reverse it.
21
"No one has seen guilt in Ya'akov, or perceived perversity in Isra'el; ADONAI their God is with them and acclaimed as king among them ​
22
"God, who brought them out of Egypt, gives them the strength of a wild ox; ​
23
thus one can't put a spell on Ya'akov, no magic will work against Isra'el. It can now be said of Ya'akov and Isra'el, 'What is this that God has done?!' ​
24
"Here is a people rising up like a lioness; like a lion he rears himself up -he will not lie down till he eats up the prey and drinks the blood of the slain." ​
25
Balak said to Bil'am, "Obviously, you won't curse them. But at least don't bless them!" ​
26
However, Bil'am answered Balak, "Didn't I warn you that I must do everything ADONAI says?"

Preparation for the Third Oracle

27
Balak said to Bil'am, "Come, I will take you now to another place; maybe it will please God for you to curse them for me from there." ​
28
Balak took Bil'am to the top of P'or, overlooking the desert. ​
29
Bil'am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams." ​
30
Balak did as Bil'am said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Study Notes for Numbers 23

Verse 1

The requirement for seven altars and sacrifices suggests an attempt at thorough religious preparation, utilizing numbers associated with completeness, common in ancient Near Eastern rituals.

Verse 3

Balaam’s method involves separating himself to receive revelation, indicating he is a genuine, though morally compromised, recipient of divine communication from Yahweh.

Verse 5

This highlights that Balaam is merely a conduit for the word of the LORD, which overrules his own intentions or Balak’s desires to curse Israel.

Verse 7

The term 'parable' (Heb. *mashal*) refers here not to a simple story, but to an authoritative, poetic, and prophetic pronouncement or oracle.

Verse 8

This rhetorical question establishes the central theological theme: the divine decree cannot be reversed by human effort or sorcery. God’s protection of Israel is immutable.

Verse 9

"Dwell alone" signifies Israel's unique status as a chosen people, divinely separated and distinct from the surrounding nations, reinforcing the covenant identity.

Verse 10

The comparison to 'dust' echoes the Abrahamic promise (Gen 13:16) regarding countless descendants, emphasizing the irrevocable nature of the blessing.

Verse 11

Balak’s distress reveals the failure of his enterprise and underscores the powerlessness of human kings against the divine will.

Verse 13

Balak believes the problem might be geographical, thinking that seeing the vast multitude of Israel (a sign of God's blessing) is hindering the curse.

Verse 14

Pisgah, part of the Abarim range, offered a clear view of the plains of Moab where Israel was camped, making it a strategically important and high vantage point.

Verse 16

God’s intervention is direct and repeated, ensuring that Balaam cannot deviate from the divine message, reinforcing the theme of divine control over prophecy.

Verse 18

Balaam commands Balak to listen, emphasizing that this is a formal, divinely inspired decree, not a personal opinion or magical spell.

Verse 19

This is a crucial theological statement emphasizing God's immutability and reliability. Unlike humans, God does not change his mind (*repent*) regarding his promises or decrees.

Verse 21

This verse means God is not currently focused on Israel's sin, but on their covenant relationship, ensuring that the blessing remains active despite temporary failings. The 'shout of a king' refers to the presence of Yahweh among them.

Verse 22

The 'strength of an unicorn' (Heb. *re'em*, likely a wild ox or aurochs) symbolizes the immense, untamable power God used in the foundational act of the Exodus.

Verse 23

This direct affirmation establishes that no human magic, enchantment, or sorcery can counteract God’s planned work for Israel. The resulting proclamation is awe and wonder at divine providence.

Verse 24

Israel is compared to a powerful, victorious lion, symbolizing their strength, conquest, and dominance over enemies, fulfilling the promises of protection and land.

Verse 25

Balak, defeated, attempts to salvage the situation by asking Balaam to simply remain silent, recognizing that Balaam cannot be compelled to curse.

Verse 27

Balak remains stubbornly determined, believing a change of location will alter God's disposition or provide a sightline that allows the curse to take effect.

Verse 28

Peor is significant because it overlooks Jeshimon (the desolate wilderness) and is the place where Israel later falls into grievous sin through Baal worship (Num 25).

Verse 29

Balaam, despite knowing his words are controlled by God, continues the ritualistic preparation, perhaps maintaining the facade for Balak or hoping God might yet grant him the requested curse.

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