Numbers 22:32

And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:

And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten {H5221} thine ass {H860} these three {H7969} times {H7272}? behold, I went out {H3318} to withstand {H7854} thee, because thy way {H1870} is perverse {H3399} before me:

The angel of ADONAI said to him, "Why did you hit your donkey three times like that? I have come out here to bar your way, because you are rushing to oppose me.

The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:

Commentary

Numbers 22:32 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of Balaam, a prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. This verse reveals the direct intervention of the Angel of the LORD, who confronts Balaam for his persistent mistreatment of his donkey and, more importantly, for his "perverse way" – a path of disobedience and self-interest.

Context

The Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, causing great fear among the Moabites. King Balak, unable to defeat them militarily, sought supernatural help by hiring Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel. Despite God initially forbidding Balaam to go (see Numbers 22:12), Balaam's covetousness led him to attempt to circumvent God's will after Balak offered greater rewards. As Balaam journeyed, the Angel of the LORD stood in his path, unseen by Balaam but clearly visible to his donkey. The donkey's repeated attempts to avoid the angel, leading to Balaam's three beatings of the animal, set the stage for this divine confrontation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's active involvement in human affairs, even using an animal to prevent a prophet from straying further from His will. God directly intervenes to protect His people and ensure His plan prevails.
  • Spiritual Blindness: A central theme is Balaam's spiritual blindness. Despite being a prophet, he was unable to perceive the divine presence that his animal clearly saw. This highlights how personal ambition or a "perverse way" can obscure spiritual truth and hinder one's ability to discern God's direction (see 2 Corinthians 4:4).
  • God's Sovereignty: Ultimately, God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human or demonic schemes. Even when individuals attempt to act against His will, God remains sovereign, capable of turning curses into blessings (Numbers 23:8).
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Balaam's "perverse way" refers to his stubborn determination to pursue a course of action that was contrary to God's explicit instructions, driven by greed. This highlights the dangers of prioritizing personal gain over divine obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: Malakh Yahweh) is significant. In many Old Testament occurrences, this figure is understood by theologians as a Christophany—a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ—or a special divine messenger who embodies God's presence and speaks with His direct authority (e.g., Exodus 3:2, Judges 6:11). The term "perverse" (Hebrew: yarad, literally "to go down") implies a path that is crooked, obstinate, or descends into wickedness, directly opposing God's upright way.

Practical Application

Numbers 22:32 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees our intentions and the direction of our hearts, not just our outward actions. It teaches us to be vigilant against spiritual blindness, especially when our desires (like greed or ambition) conflict with God's clear commands. We should be open to God's interventions, even if they come through unexpected means, as He often uses circumstances or even unlikely sources to redirect us from a "perverse way" back to His perfect will. Ultimately, God's plan for blessing His people will prevail, regardless of opposition.

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

  • Proverbs 28:18

    ¶ Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall at once.

  • Numbers 22:22

    ¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

  • Acts 13:10

    And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

  • Proverbs 28:6

    ¶ Better [is] the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [be] rich.

  • Proverbs 14:2

    ¶ He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him.

  • Numbers 22:20

    And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

  • Jonah 4:11

    And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle?
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