Numbers 22:17

KJV

For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

KJV (with Strong's)

For I will promote {H3513} thee unto very {H3966} great {H3513} honour {H3513}, and I will do {H6213} whatsoever thou sayest {H559} unto me: come {H3212} therefore, I pray thee, curse {H6895} me this people {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will reward you very well, and whatever you say to me I will do. So please come, and curse this people for me.'"

Berean Standard Bible

for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

American Standard Version

for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 22:17 captures King Balak's desperate and intensified attempt to manipulate the prophet Balaam, offering him immense honor and complete subservience in exchange for a potent curse against the formidable Israelite nation. This verse highlights Balak's escalating bribery and his profound fear of Israel's presence on the plains of Moab, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation between human will, worldly temptation, and divine sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the larger narrative of Balak's repeated attempts to secure Balaam's services to curse Israel. Following Israel's decisive victories over the Amorites and Og of Bashan ([Numbers 21:21-35](/numbers/21 "Numbers 21 - Israel's Victories")), the Moabites and Midianites are gripped by fear. Balak's initial delegation of elders and princes was dispatched, but Balaam, after consulting with God, refused to go, stating the Lord had forbidden him from cursing His people ([Numbers 22:12](/numbers/22-12 "Numbers 22:12 - God's Initial Command to Balaam")). Undeterred, Balak sends a second, more prestigious and numerous delegation, promising even greater rewards, as detailed in this verse. This escalation underscores Balak's desperation and his belief that Balaam's spiritual power, if properly incentivized, could override divine command.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the plains of Moab, directly east of the Jordan River, where the vast Israelite multitude is encamped, poised to enter Canaan. In the ancient Near East, it was a widespread and deeply held belief that curses and blessings pronounced by powerful diviners or prophets carried supernatural efficacy. Kings and nations frequently employed such figures to influence the outcome of conflicts or to secure divine favor. Balak's fear was not merely of Israel's military might but also of their God, whom he perceived as a powerful deity whose favor could be turned against His people through a curse. His lavish offers reflect the immense value placed on such spiritual services and the lengths to which rulers would go to secure perceived supernatural advantage.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 22:17 powerfully introduces several key themes that permeate the Balaam narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Temptation and Bribery**, as Balak's offer is a blatant attempt to entice Balaam with worldly riches, prestige, and power, designed to override divine instruction and Balaam's own stated commitment to God's word. Secondly, the verse sets up the profound tension between **Human Manipulation vs. Divine Sovereignty**. Balak's elaborate scheme underscores the human desire to control outcomes and even manipulate spiritual forces against God's chosen people. However, the subsequent narrative will emphatically demonstrate that God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted by human designs or magical incantations, turning intended curses into blessings ([Deuteronomy 23:5](/deuteronomy/23-5 "Deuteronomy 23:5 - God Turns Curses into Blessings")). Lastly, it touches upon **The Power of Words (and God's Control Over Them)**. In this cultural context, words spoken by a powerful prophet were believed to carry immense weight and effect. Balak desired a curse, believing it would weaken Israel, but the story reveals that only words sanctioned by God truly hold power, and He can redirect or nullify any human utterance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Promote (Hebrew, _kavad_):** This word, literally meaning "to make heavy" or "to honor," signifies not just an increase in reputation or status but also a substantial increase in material wealth and influence. In this context, Balak is promising Balaam a weighty, significant position, likely involving riches, land, and political power, far beyond mere verbal commendation. It implies a complete elevation of Balaam's social and economic standing.
* **Curse (Hebrew, _qavav_):** This specific Hebrew term refers to a binding spell or malediction, often involving a formal, ritualistic pronouncement intended to invoke divine disfavor or harm upon an enemy. It is a potent word in the ancient Near Eastern context, implying a supernatural act meant to debilitate or destroy. Balak seeks a definitive, divinely-sanctioned judgment against Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For I will promote thee unto very great honour":** This clause reveals the core of Balak's enticement. He is not merely offering a reward but a complete elevation of Balaam's social standing, wealth, and influence. The "very great" emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the offer, designed to appeal to Balaam's potential covetousness and ambition. It is a promise of unprecedented worldly gain.
* **"and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me":** This astonishing concession highlights Balak's extreme desperation and subservience. A king promising to obey a diviner in all matters is an extraordinary relinquishment of authority. It signifies that Balak is willing to place himself and his kingdom under Balaam's direction, provided Balaam delivers the desired curse. This demonstrates the depth of Balak's fear and his belief in Balaam's power.
* **"come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people":** This is the direct, urgent plea, the ultimate objective of Balak's lavish promises. The phrase "I pray thee" (or "please") adds a tone of earnest supplication, despite the king's position. It encapsulates Balak's singular focus: to neutralize the perceived threat of Israel through a supernatural malediction, believing that Balaam's words hold the key to his kingdom's survival.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 22:17 employs several literary devices to heighten the drama and underscore its theological implications. **Hyperbole** is evident in Balak's extravagant promises of "very great honour" and "whatsoever thou sayest unto me," emphasizing the king's desperation and the overwhelming nature of the temptation presented to Balaam. This over-the-top offer sets a dramatic stage for the subsequent divine intervention. There is also a strong element of **Persuasion** and **Bribery**, as Balak attempts to sway Balaam's will through material and social incentives, directly challenging Balaam's stated commitment to God's word. This highlights the narrative's exploration of moral choices and the allure of worldly gain. Furthermore, the verse subtly introduces **Foreshadowing**, as Balak's desperate attempt to manipulate divine power sets up the ultimate futility of his efforts. The reader anticipates that God's sovereignty will inevitably override Balak's schemes, turning the intended curse into a blessing, a central theme of the Balaam oracles.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 22:17 serves as a powerful illustration of the persistent allure of worldly temptation and the unwavering sovereignty of God. Balak's escalating offers reveal the lengths to which human beings will go to achieve their own ends, even attempting to coerce or manipulate divine power. However, the passage ultimately reinforces the truth that God's purposes for His chosen people cannot be thwarted by human schemes, no matter how influential or well-funded. This narrative arc demonstrates God's active protection of Israel and His ability to turn even the most malicious intentions into instruments of His blessing. It is a testament to the fact that God's word, not human pronouncements or magical incantations, holds ultimate authority and power.

* [Numbers 23:8](/numbers/23-8 "Numbers 23:8 - Balaam's Inability to Curse Israel")
* [Numbers 24:10](/numbers/24-10 "Numbers 24:10 - Balaam Blesses Israel")
* [Deuteronomy 23:5](/deuteronomy/23-5 "Deuteronomy 23:5 - God Turns Curses into Blessings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 22:17 confronts us with the timeless challenge of prioritizing divine obedience over worldly gain. Balak's offer to Balaam represents the seductive power of prestige, wealth, and influence, tempting us to compromise our integrity or deviate from God's revealed will for personal advantage. In our own lives, we often face similar, albeit less dramatic, enticements that promise "great honor" or ease if we bend our principles. This verse calls believers to a radical faithfulness, reminding us that true honor comes from God alone and that His protection and provision are far more valuable than any earthly reward. It encourages us to cultivate a heart that is so devoted to God's word that no amount of external pressure or material incentive can sway us from our commitment. Furthermore, it offers profound comfort, assuring us that God sovereignly oversees all circumstances, turning even the malicious intentions of others into opportunities to display His power and faithfulness on behalf of His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "great honor" or worldly temptations do I face that could compromise my obedience to God?**
* **How does Balak's desperate attempt to control outcomes reflect a human tendency to manipulate spiritual forces rather than trust in divine sovereignty?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to prioritize personal gain or prestige over faithfulness to God's principles?**
* **How does the ultimate outcome of the Balaam narrative encourage me when I feel threatened by external forces or malicious intentions?**

### FAQ
**Why was Balak so persistent in trying to get Balaam to curse Israel?**

Answer: Balak's persistence stemmed from profound fear and a deep-seated ancient Near Eastern belief in the power of curses. Israel's recent overwhelming victories over the Amorites and Og ([Numbers 21:21-35](/numbers/21 "Numbers 21 - Israel's Victories")) had terrified the Moabites. Balak saw the vast Israelite multitude encamped on his border and believed that a supernatural curse from a renowned diviner like Balaam was his only hope to weaken or defeat them. His offers became increasingly lavish, demonstrating his desperation and his conviction that Balaam's spiritual power could override any obstacle, even divine command.

**What does "very great honour" imply in this context?**

Answer: "Very great honour" (Hebrew: _kaved_) in this context implies not just a good reputation or social standing, but significant material wealth, high status, and substantial influence. Balak was promising Balaam a position of immense power, riches, and perhaps even a role within the Moabite court, far beyond what any ordinary diviner might expect. It was an offer designed to appeal to avarice and ambition, promising a complete transformation of Balaam's life through immense worldly gain.

**Did Balaam eventually curse Israel?**

Answer: No, despite Balak's persistent and escalating bribes, Balaam was ultimately unable to curse Israel. Each time he attempted to speak a curse, God put words in his mouth that compelled him to bless Israel instead. He delivered four oracles, each a blessing, much to Balak's frustration ([Numbers 23:8](/numbers/23-8 "Numbers 23:8 - Balaam's Inability to Curse"), [Numbers 23:11-12](/numbers/23-11 "Numbers 23:11-12 - Balak's Frustration"), [Numbers 24:10](/numbers/24-10 "Numbers 24:10 - Balaam Blesses Israel")). This demonstrated God's absolute sovereignty over human intentions and the power of words. While Balaam did not curse them directly, he later advised Balak on how to entice Israel into sin, leading to a plague ([Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel to Balak")), revealing his underlying covetousness, as noted in the New Testament ([2 Peter 2:15](/2_peter/2-15 "2 Peter 2:15 - Balaam's Error")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Balaam, initiated by Balak's desperate plea in Numbers 22:17, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan in Christ. Balak sought to employ a curse to thwart God's purposes for His people, but God sovereignly turned every intended curse into a blessing. This divine reversal finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who became a curse for us, "having become a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'" ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Became a Curse for Us")). Through His crucifixion, Jesus absorbed the full weight of the curse of sin and death, transforming it into the greatest blessing of salvation and eternal life. Just as Balaam, despite his intentions, could only utter blessings over Israel because God controlled his words, so too, all human and demonic attempts to curse or destroy God's new covenant people, the Church, are ultimately rendered impotent by the finished work of Christ. He is the true Prophet, greater than Balaam, who perfectly speaks God's word and whose sacrifice ensures that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ")). The story of Balak's futility in cursing God's people points to the unbreakable covenant God has established through the blood of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), turning all curses into eternal blessings for those who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 24:11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Esther 5:11

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all [the things] wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Deuteronomy 16:9

Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from [such time as] thou beginnest [to put] the sickle to the corn.

Numbers 22:6

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Esther 7:9

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.

Numbers 23:29

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Numbers 23:30

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on [every] altar.