Numbers 22:30

And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

And the ass {H860} said {H559} unto Balaam {H1109}, Am not I thine ass {H860}, upon which thou hast ridden {H7392} ever since I was thine unto this day {H3117}? was I ever {H5532} wont {H5532} to do so {H6213} unto thee? And he said {H559}, Nay.

The donkey said to Bil'am, "I'm your donkey, right? You've ridden me all your life, right? Have I ever treated you like this before?""No," he admitted.

But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.

And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.

Commentary

Numbers 22:30 captures a truly extraordinary moment in the biblical narrative: the talking donkey. This verse records the donkey's direct appeal to Balaam, highlighting its consistent loyalty and questioning Balaam's harsh treatment, revealing a profound spiritual blindness in the prophet.

Context of Numbers 22:30

This verse is part of the captivating story of Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner, who was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the advancing Israelites. God was displeased with Balaam's intent to curse His people. As Balaam rode his donkey towards Moab, the Angel of the Lord stood in the way, invisible to Balaam but clearly seen by the donkey. The donkey, in an attempt to avoid the angel, turned aside three times, leading Balaam to beat it severely. After the third beating, God miraculously opened the donkey's mouth, allowing it to speak and rebuke its master. Verse 30 is the donkey's logical and poignant defense, appealing to its long history of faithful service.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Intervention and Supernatural Power: The most immediate theme is God's direct and miraculous intervention in human affairs. He uses an animal to communicate His will and halt a prophet's misguided journey. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His ability to speak through any means necessary to achieve His purposes.
  • Spiritual Blindness vs. Animal Insight: A striking contrast is drawn between Balaam, a man of spiritual insight (even if corrupted), and his animal. Balaam is so focused on his mission and perhaps his anger that he cannot perceive the divine obstacle, while the donkey clearly sees the Angel of the Lord. The donkey's question, "was I ever wont to do so unto thee?", underscores Balaam's irrationality and his failure to recognize the highly unusual circumstances. This serves as a powerful illustration of spiritual blindness.
  • God's Protection of His People: Ultimately, this entire episode, including the talking donkey, demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to protect Israel from curses and harm. He would not allow Balaam to curse the people He had blessed.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" is crucial. "Wont" (from Old English wunian) means "accustomed" or "in the habit of." The donkey's question is an appeal to its consistent, reliable character and behavior throughout its service to Balaam. It implies, "Have I ever behaved disobediently or strangely before? My current actions are unprecedented, and there must be a reason for them." This highlights the donkey's faithful nature and makes its supernatural speech even more impactful.

Practical Application

The story of Balaam and his talking donkey holds several timeless lessons:

  • Be Open to God's Voice: God can speak through unexpected and unconventional channels. We should remain humble and open to His guidance, even if it comes from a seemingly unlikely source. Are we ever so fixed on our own agenda or so spiritually dull that we miss God's warnings or directions?
  • Examine Our Own Blind Spots: Balaam's inability to see the angel, even as his donkey did, serves as a warning against spiritual arrogance or preoccupation. It encourages us to regularly examine our own hearts and minds for potential blind spots that might hinder us from perceiving God's hand or hearing His voice.
  • God's Sovereignty: This narrative powerfully reminds us of God's absolute control and His benevolent protection over those who are His. Even when facing opposition, God has countless ways to intervene and ensure His purposes prevail. As 2 Peter 2:16 notes, the donkey "forbade the madness of the prophet."
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

  • 2 Peter 2:16

    But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:27

    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28

    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
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