Numbers 22:9

KJV

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} came {H935} unto Balaam {H1109}, and said {H559}, What men {H582} are these with thee?

Complete Jewish Bible

God came to Bil'am and said, "Who are these men with you?"

Berean Standard Bible

Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

American Standard Version

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 22:9 marks a critical juncture in the narrative of Balaam, the Mesopotamian diviner summoned by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the advancing Israelites. This verse powerfully reveals God's direct, personal, and proactive involvement in human affairs, even in unexpected and seemingly private circumstances. God's rhetorical question to Balaam, "What men [are] these with thee?", is not born of ignorance but serves as a profound demonstration of divine omniscience and sovereign control, setting the stage for His explicit command and intervention to protect His covenant people from harm.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 22:9 is strategically placed within the larger narrative of Israel's wilderness wanderings, following their decisive victories over the Amorites and Bashan in [Numbers 21](/numbers/21 "Numbers 21 - Israel's Victories"). The Israelites have now encamped in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, directly opposite Jericho ([Numbers 22:1](/numbers/22-1 "Numbers 22:1 - Israel in the Plains of Moab")). Balak, the Moabite king, gripped by intense fear at Israel's formidable presence and recent triumphs, seeks to neutralize this perceived threat through spiritual means. He dispatches elders from Moab and Midian to Pethor, a city on the Euphrates, to enlist Balaam, a renowned diviner whose blessings and curses were widely believed to be effective ([Numbers 22:2-7](/numbers/22-2-7 "Numbers 22:2-7 - Balak sends for Balaam")). Upon the messengers' arrival, Balaam instructs them to stay the night, stating he would "bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me" ([Numbers 22:8](/numbers/22-8 "Numbers 22:8 - Balaam waits for God's word")). It is during this night, after Balaam has retired, that God directly approaches him with the interrogative in verse 9, initiating a divine encounter that will profoundly shape the subsequent events and God's protective actions towards Israel, culminating in God's explicit command forbidding Balaam from cursing His people in [Numbers 22:12](/numbers/22-12 "Numbers 22:12 - God forbids Balaam from cursing Israel").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East was a cultural landscape deeply steeped in beliefs concerning the efficacy of curses and blessings, often invoked by professional diviners, seers, or prophets. Kings and rulers frequently employed such figures to gain spiritual advantage in warfare, to ensure prosperity, or to protect their realms from perceived supernatural threats. Balaam, though not an Israelite, was widely recognized as a powerful figure whose pronouncements were believed to carry significant spiritual weight ([Numbers 22:6](/numbers/22-6 "Numbers 22:6 - Balaam's reputation")). This cultural backdrop illuminates Balak's desperation and his reliance on a common, albeit pagan, practice of the time. God's direct and unsolicited intervention with Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner, powerfully underscores His universal sovereignty, demonstrating that even pagan practices and practitioners are ultimately subject to His divine will and purpose. The Moabites, descendants of Lot ([Genesis 19:37](/genesis/19-37 "Genesis 19:37 - Origin of Moabites")), had a complex and often hostile relationship with Israel, which is vividly expressed in Balak's fear and his attempt to use supernatural means against them.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 22:9 contributes significantly to several overarching themes present throughout the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, powerfully illustrating God's absolute control over all nations, individuals, and even the spiritual realm, overriding human intentions and pagan practices. His direct, unprompted communication with Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner, unequivocally demonstrates that no one is outside His jurisdiction or beyond His reach. Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Omniscience**; God's question is rhetorical, not informational, affirming His complete and perfect knowledge of all circumstances, motives, and hidden intentions, a truth echoed profoundly in passages like [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalms/139-1-4 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience and Presence"). Thirdly, it underscores God's unwavering **Covenant Faithfulness and Protection of Israel**. His intervention with Balaam is a direct and proactive act of safeguarding His chosen people from external threats, fulfilling His promises to Abraham that those who bless Israel would be blessed, and those who curse them would be cursed ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - Abrahamic Covenant")). Finally, the encounter subtly introduces the theme of **Testing and Accountability**, as God's question provides Balaam an immediate opportunity to be transparent and align his will with God's, foreshadowing Balaam's later moral compromises and the counsel he gave to cause Israel to sin, as seen in [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's counsel to cause Israel to sin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** While _ʼĕlôhîym_ (H430) is a plural noun often used generally for "gods" or "divine beings" in the ancient Near East, in this specific context, especially when used with a singular verb and in direct encounter with Balaam, it refers unequivocally to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The use of this majestic term here, in a direct encounter with a non-Israelite diviner, emphasizes God's universal authority and His transcendence over all other deities or spiritual powers. It signifies that the God of Israel is not merely a tribal deity but the supreme sovereign over all creation and all people, including Balaam.
* **came (Hebrew, _bôwʼ'_):** The verb _bôwʼ_ (H935), here rendered as "came" (specifically _vayyēvōʾ_), denotes a direct, personal, and intentional approach. It signifies an active manifestation of God's presence to Balaam, rather than a passive revelation in a dream or a distant voice. This direct "coming" underscores the immediacy and importance of the divine encounter, showing God's proactive engagement in the unfolding events rather than a detached observation. It implies a divine intrusion into Balaam's private space, signaling the gravity of the impending conversation and God's determination to intervene.
* **men (Hebrew, _ʼĕnôwsh'_):** The term _ʼĕnôwsh_ (H582), translated as "men," refers to mortals in general, often highlighting their frailty or common humanity. In this context, "What men [are] these with thee?" is a crucial interrogative phrase. It is a rhetorical question, not an inquiry born of ignorance, as God is omniscient. The use of _ʼĕnôwsh_ here subtly contrasts the mortal, limited nature of Balak's messengers and Balaam himself with the omniscient, sovereign God who is posing the question. The question serves to immediately grab Balaam's attention, prompt him to articulate the situation, and implicitly communicate God's full awareness of his circumstances, functioning as an initial test of transparency.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God came unto Balaam":** This opening clause establishes the divine initiative and highlights God's sovereign control. It is God who approaches Balaam, not the other way around. This underscores God's direct involvement in the lives of individuals, even those outside the immediate covenant community of Israel. The unexpected nature of this divine visitation emphasizes God's determination to protect His people and to guide the course of events according to His unchangeable will, demonstrating His active presence in the world.
* **"and said":** This simple yet profound phrase signifies direct verbal communication. God is not merely presenting a vision, an impression, or an angelic messenger, but engaging Balaam in a clear, audible dialogue. This directness emphasizes the authority of the divine word and the personal nature of God's interaction with Balaam, preparing him for the specific commands and instructions that will immediately follow, which are crucial for the protection of Israel.
* **"What men [are] these with thee?":** This is the pivotal rhetorical question of the verse. God, being omniscient, does not ask for information He lacks, but rather for Balaam to acknowledge the presence and explicit purpose of Balak's messengers. This question serves multiple functions: it acts as an immediate test of Balaam's integrity and transparency, inviting him to fully disclose the situation; it asserts God's omniscience and omnipresence, demonstrating that no human action, intention, or secret proposition is hidden from His sight; and it implicitly warns Balaam that God is fully aware of the proposition he has received and will hold him accountable for his response, setting the stage for the divine prohibition against cursing Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 22:9 is **Rhetorical Question**. God's query, "What men [are] these with thee?", is not a genuine request for information, as God is omniscient and fully aware of Balak's messengers and their mission. Instead, it serves to draw Balaam into a direct confrontation with divine knowledge, prompting him to articulate the situation and acknowledge God's awareness. This device immediately establishes God's authority and omniscience, setting the stage for His subsequent commands and highlighting the gravity of Balaam's predicament. Additionally, there is an element of **Anthropomorphism** in the phrase "God came unto Balaam," describing God's divine action in human terms of physical movement, making His presence and intervention more relatable and impactful for the human audience. The verse also functions as **Foreshadowing**, as God's initial question immediately signals His active involvement and foreshadows His direct intervention to prevent Balaam from cursing Israel, thereby protecting His covenant people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 22:9 profoundly reveals the active, personal, and omniscient nature of God's sovereignty. God is not a distant, detached deity but one who intimately knows and actively intervenes in the affairs of humanity, even discerning hidden motives and private conversations. His intervention here demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Israel, actively thwarting plans designed to harm His people. This passage underscores that God's knowledge is not passive but leads to purposeful action, ensuring His will is accomplished despite human opposition, manipulation, or the machinations of evil. It reminds us that God's watchful eye is always upon His creation, and His protective hand is always over those He calls His own, often working in unseen ways to safeguard them from spiritual and physical dangers.

* [Psalm 139:1-4](/psalms/139-1-4 "Psalm 139:1-4 - God's Omniscience and Presence")
* [Proverbs 15:3](/proverbs/15-3 "Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are in every place")
* [Isaiah 46:9-10](/isaiah/46-9-10 "Isaiah 46:9-10 - God declares the end from the beginning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 22:9 offers profound insights for contemporary believers, reminding us that God is intimately aware of every detail of our lives, including the company we keep, the temptations we face, and the propositions that come our way. Just as God confronted Balaam with a rhetorical question, He often allows circumstances, the counsel of His Word, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit to prompt us to acknowledge His presence and purposes in our own decisions. This verse calls us to live with a profound awareness of God's omniscience, fostering a spirit of transparency, integrity, and accountability before Him in all our dealings. It encourages us to seek His counsel diligently, especially when faced with opportunities that promise worldly gain but might compromise our spiritual walk, our loyalty to Him, or our witness to others. Ultimately, it reassures us of God's active and protective care for His people, reminding us that He is always working, often in unseen ways, to guard and guide those who are His, ensuring that no weapon formed against us will ultimately prosper.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's omniscience, as powerfully demonstrated in Numbers 22:9, comfort or challenge your daily walk with Him?**
* **In what areas of your life might God be asking a "rhetorical question," prompting you to be more transparent about your intentions, associations, or unconfessed sins?**
* **How does this passage encourage you about God's active protection of His people, even when they are unaware of the dangers or plots against them?**

### FAQ

**Why did God ask Balaam a question He already knew the answer to?**

Answer: God's question, "What men [are] these with thee?", was not an inquiry born of ignorance but a rhetorical device employed for several critical functions. God is omniscient and already knew precisely who the men were and their purpose. The question immediately drew Balaam's attention to the divine presence, prompted him to articulate the situation himself, and powerfully demonstrated God's complete awareness of his circumstances. It served as a subtle yet potent test of Balaam's integrity and an implicit warning that God was fully cognizant of the proposition he had received. This divine interrogation set the stage for God's subsequent commands and underscored His sovereign control over the entire situation, ensuring the protection of His covenant people, Israel. It forced Balaam to acknowledge God's presence and knowledge, preparing him for the divine prohibition that would follow.

**Was Balaam a true prophet of God or a pagan diviner?**

Answer: Balaam's identity is complex and has been a subject of theological debate. He is explicitly described as a diviner ([Numbers 22:7](/numbers/22-7 "Numbers 22:7 - Balaam, the Diviner")) and was known for his ability to bless or curse effectively ([Numbers 22:6](/numbers/22-6 "Numbers 22:6 - Balaam's reputation")), suggesting a background rooted in pagan practices common in the ancient Near East. However, the narrative clearly states that the Lord, Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, directly spoke to him ([Numbers 22:9](/numbers/22-9 "Numbers 22:9 - God speaks to Balaam"), [Numbers 22:12](/numbers/22-12 "Numbers 22:12 - God's command to Balaam"), [Numbers 22:20](/numbers/22-20 "Numbers 22:20 - God's permission to Balaam")). This demonstrates God's universal sovereignty over all individuals, even those outside the covenant community, and His ability to use anyone for His divine purposes. While Balaam acknowledged Yahweh and received His word, his later actions reveal a heart motivated by greed ([Numbers 22:21-35](/numbers/22-21-35 "Numbers 22:21-35 - Balaam's journey and the donkey"); [2 Peter 2:15](/2_peter/2-15 "2 Peter 2:15 - Balaam, who loved the wages of wickedness")) and a willingness to counsel Balak in a way that led Israel into sin ([Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's counsel to cause Israel to sin")). Thus, Balaam was a diviner through whom God chose to speak His word, but his personal character and ultimate allegiance were deeply flawed, leading to his eventual downfall.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 22:9, with God's direct and omniscient intervention to protect His people from a curse, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The very God who "came unto Balaam" to thwart a human plot against Israel is the same God who, in the fullness of time, "came unto" humanity in the person of His Son, Jesus, embodying the divine initiative to save ([John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word was God and with God")). Just as God's rhetorical question in [Numbers 22:9](/numbers/22-9 "Numbers 22:9 - God's question to Balaam") revealed His complete knowledge and sovereign control over all things, so too does Christ embody the divine omniscience, knowing the thoughts and intentions of all hearts, for "all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" ([Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - All things are naked and open before God")). The protection of Israel from Balaam's intended curse powerfully foreshadows Christ's ultimate act of redemption, where He Himself became a curse for us on the cross, freeing us from the condemnation of the law and the power of sin ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law")). The divine initiative seen in God "coming" to Balaam points forward to the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, initiating salvation not by human will or merit but by divine grace and sovereign purpose ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us")). Through Christ, God's protective sovereignty over His new covenant people, the Church, is eternally secured, as Jesus promises that the gates of Hades will not prevail against His church ([Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - Gates of Hades will not prevail against the church")), ensuring that no spiritual or physical curse can ultimately separate His redeemed from His unfailing love and eternal purpose ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing can separate us from God's love")).

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

Genesis 20:3

¶ But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife.

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.

Genesis 41:25

And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do.

Genesis 31:24

And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Genesis 3:9

¶ And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou?

Genesis 3:11

¶ And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Genesis 4:9

¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper?