Numbers23

Balaam, hired by Balak to curse Israel, repeatedly attempts to do so by building altars and offering sacrifices. However, each time the LORD puts words in Balaam's mouth, compelling him to utter blessings and prophecies of Israel's strength and unique status, much to Balak's frustration. Balaam consistently affirms he can only speak what God commands.

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Balaam Prepares the First Altar

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

And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.

And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.

Balaam’s First Oracle: Israel Blessed

And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?

The Second Attempt to Curse Israel

¶ And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.

And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.

And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?

Balaam’s Second Oracle: God’s Faithfulness

And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?

Preparation for the Third Oracle

And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

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

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

Study Notes for Numbers 23

Verse 1

The requirement for seven altars and sacrifices suggests an attempt at thorough religious preparation, utilizing numbers associated with completeness, common in ancient Near Eastern rituals.

Verse 3

Balaam’s method involves separating himself to receive revelation, indicating he is a genuine, though morally compromised, recipient of divine communication from Yahweh.

Verse 5

This highlights that Balaam is merely a conduit for the word of the LORD, which overrules his own intentions or Balak’s desires to curse Israel.

Verse 7

The term 'parable' (Heb. *mashal*) refers here not to a simple story, but to an authoritative, poetic, and prophetic pronouncement or oracle.

Verse 8

This rhetorical question establishes the central theological theme: the divine decree cannot be reversed by human effort or sorcery. God’s protection of Israel is immutable.

Verse 9

"Dwell alone" signifies Israel's unique status as a chosen people, divinely separated and distinct from the surrounding nations, reinforcing the covenant identity.

Verse 10

The comparison to 'dust' echoes the Abrahamic promise (Gen 13:16) regarding countless descendants, emphasizing the irrevocable nature of the blessing.

Verse 11

Balak’s distress reveals the failure of his enterprise and underscores the powerlessness of human kings against the divine will.

Verse 13

Balak believes the problem might be geographical, thinking that seeing the vast multitude of Israel (a sign of God's blessing) is hindering the curse.

Verse 14

Pisgah, part of the Abarim range, offered a clear view of the plains of Moab where Israel was camped, making it a strategically important and high vantage point.

Verse 16

God’s intervention is direct and repeated, ensuring that Balaam cannot deviate from the divine message, reinforcing the theme of divine control over prophecy.

Verse 18

Balaam commands Balak to listen, emphasizing that this is a formal, divinely inspired decree, not a personal opinion or magical spell.

Verse 19

This is a crucial theological statement emphasizing God's immutability and reliability. Unlike humans, God does not change his mind (*repent*) regarding his promises or decrees.

Verse 21

This verse means God is not currently focused on Israel's sin, but on their covenant relationship, ensuring that the blessing remains active despite temporary failings. The 'shout of a king' refers to the presence of Yahweh among them.

Verse 22

The 'strength of an unicorn' (Heb. *re'em*, likely a wild ox or aurochs) symbolizes the immense, untamable power God used in the foundational act of the Exodus.

Verse 23

This direct affirmation establishes that no human magic, enchantment, or sorcery can counteract God’s planned work for Israel. The resulting proclamation is awe and wonder at divine providence.

Verse 24

Israel is compared to a powerful, victorious lion, symbolizing their strength, conquest, and dominance over enemies, fulfilling the promises of protection and land.

Verse 25

Balak, defeated, attempts to salvage the situation by asking Balaam to simply remain silent, recognizing that Balaam cannot be compelled to curse.

Verse 27

Balak remains stubbornly determined, believing a change of location will alter God's disposition or provide a sightline that allows the curse to take effect.

Verse 28

Peor is significant because it overlooks Jeshimon (the desolate wilderness) and is the place where Israel later falls into grievous sin through Baal worship (Num 25).

Verse 29

Balaam, despite knowing his words are controlled by God, continues the ritualistic preparation, perhaps maintaining the facade for Balak or hoping God might yet grant him the requested curse.

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Numbers23

Balaam Prepares the First Altar

Balaam’s First Oracle: Israel Blessed

The Second Attempt to Curse Israel

Balaam’s Second Oracle: God’s Faithfulness

Preparation for the Third Oracle

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