Joshua 24:9

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

Then Balak {H1111} the son {H1121} of Zippor {H6834}, king {H4428} of Moab {H4124}, arose {H6965} and warred {H3898} against Israel {H3478}, and sent {H7971} and called {H7121} Balaam {H1109} the son {H1121} of Beor {H1160} to curse {H7043} you:

Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, rose up and fought against Isra'el. He sent and summoned Bil'am the son of B'or to put a curse on you.

Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;

Commentary

Joshua 24:9 is part of Joshua's powerful farewell address to the tribes of Israel at Shechem, where he recounts the Lord's faithfulness and mighty acts from Abraham's call to their entry into the Promised Land. In this specific verse, Joshua reminds the people of a significant event during their wilderness journey: the attempt by Balak, king of Moab, to thwart God's plan for Israel.

Context

This verse points back to a critical period in Israel's history, as detailed in the Book of Numbers. As the Israelites approached the land of Moab on their way to Canaan, Balak, the local king, grew fearful of their vast numbers and power. Instead of engaging in direct warfare, he sought supernatural means to defeat them. He sent for Balaam, a renowned diviner or prophet from Mesopotamia, hoping that Balaam's curses could weaken or destroy Israel. Joshua's mention of this event serves to underscore God's unwavering protection over His people, even against spiritual attacks.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Protection: The primary message is God's sovereign hand guarding Israel. Despite Balak's intentions and Balaam's reputation, God ensured no harm came to His chosen people through curses.
  • Futility of Opposition Against God: This incident clearly demonstrates that no human scheme or supernatural power can ultimately prevail against the Lord's will for His people. Balak's efforts were in vain because God was with Israel.
  • Divine Sovereignty Turning Curses into Blessings: A remarkable aspect of this narrative, elaborated upon in the Book of Numbers, is that God not only prevented Balaam from cursing Israel but compelled him to utter blessings instead. This is a powerful testament to God's ability to turn adversaries' intentions for evil into good for His people, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:5.
  • Remembering God's Faithfulness: Joshua's recounting of this history serves as a reminder for the Israelites (and for us) of God's past faithfulness, building confidence for future challenges.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "to curse you" (Hebrew: lekabebka) implies a powerful, supernatural imprecation intended to invoke harm or destruction. Balaam was sought precisely for his perceived ability to manipulate divine forces through his words. The fact that he was unable to utter a curse, and instead delivered blessings, highlights the superior power of the God of Israel over any other spiritual influence or human endeavor.

Related Scriptures

The full account of Balak and Balaam's interaction, and God's intervention, is extensively detailed in Numbers chapters 22 through 24. Balaam's prophetic blessings on Israel, despite Balak's desires, are found in Numbers 23:8 and Numbers 24:9. This event is also recalled in Micah 6:5 as an example of God's righteous acts.

Practical Application

For believers today, Joshua 24:9 serves as a potent reminder that our God is a Protector who actively intervenes on behalf of His people. When faced with opposition, whether from individuals, systems, or unseen spiritual forces, we can draw strength from the knowledge that God's plans for us cannot be thwarted. We are called to remember God's past faithfulness in our lives and in the history of His people, trusting that He will continue to turn what others intend for harm into blessings for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, echoing the truth found in Romans 8:28.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 11:25

    And now [art] thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

  • Numbers 22:2

    And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

  • Micah 6:5

    O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 23:4

    Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

  • Deuteronomy 23:5

    Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

  • Numbers 22:5

    He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

  • Numbers 22:21

    And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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