Numbers 23:14

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he brought {H3947} him into the field {H7704} of Zophim {H6839}{H6822}, to the top {H7218} of Pisgah {H6449}, and built {H1129} seven {H7651} altars {H4196}, and offered {H5927} a bullock {H6499} and a ram {H352} on every altar {H4196}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He took him through the field of Tzofim to the top of the Pisgah Range, built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar

Berean Standard Bible

So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 23:14 details King Balak's second desperate attempt to secure a curse against the Israelites from the prophet Balaam. After the initial failure, Balak strategically relocated Balaam to the "field of Zophim" on the "top of Pisgah," a new vantage point, and meticulously repeated the elaborate ritual of building seven altars and offering a bullock and a ram on each. This persistent effort underscores Balak's unwavering belief in the efficacy of pagan rituals to manipulate divine power, yet it ultimately serves to highlight God's unyielding sovereignty and His unchangeable will to bless His chosen people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Balaam's first oracle in [Numbers 23:7-10](/numbers/23-7 "Numbers 23:7-10 - Balaam's First Oracle"), where, contrary to Balak's wishes, he pronounced a blessing upon Israel. Balak, frustrated but undeterred, believes the location or the specific view of the Israelite camp might be influencing Balaam's words. Thus, [Numbers 23:13](/numbers/23-13 "Numbers 23:13 - Balak's Second Attempt to Curse Israel") shows Balak moving Balaam to a new site, hoping a change of scenery would enable a different outcome. The repetition of the seven altars and sacrifices directly mirrors the preparations in [Numbers 23:1-2](/numbers/23-1 "Numbers 23:1-2 - Balak's Initial Preparations"), emphasizing Balak's dogged persistence and the futility of his efforts against God's predetermined plan, setting the stage for Balaam's second, equally surprising, blessing.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Israel's journey through the wilderness, approaching the plains of Moab. King Balak of Moab, along with the Midianites, was terrified by the sheer size and presence of the Israelite encampment ([Numbers 22:3](/numbers/22-3 "Numbers 22:3 - Balak's Fear of Israel")). In the ancient Near East, it was common practice for kings to employ diviners or prophets to curse their enemies or secure divine favor for battle. Balaam, a renowned diviner from Pethor in Mesopotamia, was sought out for this very purpose. The repeated building of seven altars and the offering of specific animals (bullocks and rams) were standard, costly, and elaborate ritualistic acts intended to appease or coerce deities, demonstrating the profound belief in the power of such rituals to influence spiritual outcomes. The choice of "Pisgah," a prominent peak offering a panoramic view, was likely strategic, aiming to give Balaam the best possible vantage point to "curse" the vast Israelite camp.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 23:14 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the **futility of human opposition to God's sovereign will**. Despite Balak's renewed efforts, the elaborate rituals, and the change of location, God's plan for Israel's blessing remains unshakeable. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **God's absolute sovereignty over all powers and principalities**, including pagan diviners. Even Balaam, who initially desired to curse Israel for personal gain, is supernaturally constrained by God to speak only what God puts in his mouth ([Numbers 24:10](/numbers/24-10 "Numbers 24:10 - Balaam's Inability to Curse Israel")). This demonstrates that God's word and purpose cannot be manipulated or thwarted by human or demonic forces. Finally, the verse reinforces the **unchangeable character of God**, a truth explicitly stated later in Balaam's second oracle: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent" ([Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God's Unchanging Nature")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Zophim (Hebrew, _Ṣōpîm'_):** Literally meaning "watchers" or "lookouts," this term suggests a place chosen for its elevated position and clear view. Balak likely selected this "field of watchers" hoping that a comprehensive view of the Israelite camp would enable Balaam to identify a weakness or a specific angle from which to pronounce an effective curse. It underscores the strategic, almost military, nature of Balak's spiritual warfare.
* **Pisgah (Hebrew, _Pisgāh'_):** This refers to a distinct peak or summit, part of the Abarim mountain range east of the Jordan. Pisgah offers a panoramic view, making it an ideal location for observation. The name itself, "summit" or "peak," emphasizes the high vantage point. It is significant that this same peak is later identified as the place from which [Moses viewed the Promised Land](/deuteronomy/34-1 "Deuteronomy 34:1 - Moses Views the Promised Land from Pisgah") before his death, creating a profound contrast between a place of attempted curse and a place of divine promise and vision.
* **Seven Altars (Hebrew, _šibʿāh mizbĕḥōt'_):** The number seven in biblical numerology often signifies completeness, perfection, or divine fullness. Here, Balak's repeated construction of seven altars (first in [Numbers 23:1](/numbers/23-1 "Numbers 23:1 - Balak's First Sacrifices"), now again) indicates an intense, exhaustive, and ritually complete effort to secure divine favor for his curse. It reflects a pagan understanding that the more complete and elaborate the ritual, the more likely the desired outcome.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah":** This clause describes Balak's strategic relocation of Balaam. Driven by desperation after the first failed attempt, Balak sought a new geographical and spiritual vantage point. The choice of Zophim (field of watchers) and Pisgah (summit) indicates a desire for an unobstructed, comprehensive view of the Israelite encampment, perhaps believing that a clearer sight would enable a more potent or accurate curse. This movement highlights Balak's persistent, yet misguided, belief in the power of location and ritual to influence divine outcomes.
* **"and built seven altars":** This phrase signifies the repetition of the elaborate ritual performed in the first attempt. Balak's insistence on building precisely seven altars underscores his commitment to a complete and ritually perfect offering, aiming to compel the gods to act on his behalf. The number seven reinforces the idea of a full, intense effort, reflecting a pagan mindset that believed divine favor could be earned or coerced through such meticulous preparations.
* **"and offered a bullock and a ram on [every] altar":** This details the specific sacrifices made on each of the seven altars. Bullocks and rams were significant and valuable animals for sacrifice in the ancient Near East, indicating the great expense and importance Balak placed on this ritual. These offerings were intended to propitiate the deities and secure their assistance in cursing Israel. The repetition of these costly sacrifices on each altar further emphasizes Balak's desperate and thorough attempt to achieve his objective through pagan means.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Repetition** is prominent, with the repeated building of seven altars and the offering of a bullock and a ram (cf. [Numbers 23:1](/numbers/23-1 "Numbers 23:1 - Balak's Initial Rituals") and [Numbers 23:29](/numbers/23-29 "Numbers 23:29 - Balak's Third Attempt")). This highlights Balak's stubbornness, his desperation, and the futility of his repeated efforts against God's unchangeable will. There is also significant **irony** at play: Balak's elaborate and costly attempts to curse Israel repeatedly result in divine blessings, demonstrating God's sovereign control over even the words of a pagan prophet. The chosen locations, "field of Zophim" and "Pisgah," function as **symbols**. They represent vantage points from which to observe, but ultimately, they become places where God's divine revelation and blessing, rather than human-desired curses, are pronounced, contrasting human intent with divine purpose.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 23:14 serves as a powerful testament to God's unassailable sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It underscores that no human scheme, no matter how meticulously planned or ritually executed, can thwart the divine will. Balak's repeated attempts to manipulate spiritual forces through pagan rituals are rendered utterly ineffective by the Lord, who turns intended curses into blessings. This passage affirms that God's purposes for His people are fixed and cannot be altered by external opposition, demonstrating His absolute control over all circumstances and even over the hearts and mouths of those who oppose Him. It is a profound declaration that God is not subject to human manipulation or pagan magic, but rather is the supreme and sovereign ruler of all creation.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "God is not a man, that He should lie")
* [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "God Declares the End from the Beginning")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 23:14 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that our God is utterly sovereign, and His plans for His people cannot be thwarted by any human or spiritual opposition. In a world often filled with fear, uncertainty, and seemingly overwhelming challenges, this verse encourages us to rest in the unshakeable truth that if God is for us, no one can successfully stand against us. It calls us away from any temptation to "manipulate" God through rigid adherence to rituals, legalistic practices, or superstitious beliefs, urging us instead to trust in His unchangeable character and His perfect will. Our security is not in our efforts or the appeasement of external forces, but in the faithful, steadfast love and power of God, who turns even the curses of our enemies into blessings. This passage invites us to live with confident assurance, knowing that God remains in control, working all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Balak's persistent, yet futile, effort in Numbers 23:14 deepen your understanding of God's absolute sovereignty?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to rely on human strategies or "ritualistic" efforts rather than fully trusting in God's unchangeable character and His divine plan?**
* **What specific comfort or encouragement can you draw from the truth that God's purposes for His people cannot be thwarted, even by powerful opposition?**

### FAQ
**Why did Balak move Balaam to a new location if the first attempt failed?**

Answer: Balak's decision to move Balaam to the "field of Zophim" on "the top of Pisgah" after the first failed attempt (Numbers 23:1-12) reveals his deep desperation and a common ancient Near Eastern belief in the power of location and perspective in divination. He likely thought that the previous site was somehow "unlucky" or that a different vantage point, offering a clearer or more comprehensive view of the Israelite camp, might enable Balaam to find a weakness to curse. This reflects a superstitious mindset that believed spiritual outcomes could be influenced by external factors and meticulous ritual, rather than recognizing the ultimate sovereignty of God.

**What is the significance of "Pisgah" in biblical history beyond this event?**

Answer: Pisgah is a highly significant peak in the Abarim mountain range, located east of the Jordan River. While it serves as the site of Balak's second attempt to curse Israel in Numbers 23:14, its most famous biblical association is found later in Deuteronomy. It is from the top of Pisgah (specifically, Mount Nebo, which is part of the Pisgah range) that [Moses viewed the Promised Land](/deuteronomy/34-1 "Deuteronomy 34:1 - Moses Views the Promised Land from Pisgah") just before his death. This creates a powerful and ironic contrast: a place where an enemy sought to curse God's people becomes the very place where God fulfills His promise to Moses, allowing him to see the land that Israel would inherit.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 23:14, with its depiction of a futile attempt to curse God's people, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Just as no curse could stick to Israel because of God's sovereign will, so too in Christ, believers are eternally blessed and beyond the reach of any curse. The Old Testament narrative foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's blessing over the curse of sin and death, which Jesus accomplished on the cross. [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse") declares that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." He absorbed the full weight of divine judgment, turning the ultimate curse into the ultimate blessing for all who believe. Furthermore, just as God supernaturally controlled Balaam's words, so Christ has disarmed and triumphed over all the powers and authorities that would seek to curse or harm His people ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers and Authorities")). In Him, the believer is secure; no one can snatch them out of His hand ([John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand")), and nothing can separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love")). The futility of Balak's pagan rituals points forward to the absolute sufficiency and finality of Christ's perfect sacrifice, which forever secures God's blessing for His redeemed.

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 23:1

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

Numbers 23:2

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

Isaiah 46:6

They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

Isaiah 1:10

¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:11

To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Hosea 12:11

[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

Deuteronomy 3:27

Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold [it] with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.