Numbers 23:15

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And he said {H559} unto Balak {H1111}, Stand {H3320} here {H3541} by thy burnt offering {H5930}, while I meet {H7136} the LORD yonder {H3541}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Bil'am said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go over there for a meeting."

Berean Standard Bible

Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 23:15 captures the pivotal moment in the Balaam narrative where the diviner, at Balak's behest, prepares for his second attempt to curse Israel. Having just overseen the construction of seven altars and the offering of numerous sacrifices, Balaam instructs King Balak to remain with the burnt offering while he withdraws to a solitary place, expecting to receive a divine oracle from the LORD. This act underscores Balaam's consistent method of seeking revelation, even as it highlights the tension between human manipulation and divine sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the larger narrative of Balaam and Balak found in [Numbers chapters 22-24](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balak Summons Balaam"). Following Balaam's initial failed attempt to curse Israel from the "high places of Baal" in [Numbers 23:1-12](/numbers/23-1 "Numbers 23:1-12 - Balaam's First Oracle"), Balak, undeterred, moves Balaam to a new vantage point, "the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah" ([Numbers 23:13-14](/numbers/23-13 "Numbers 23:13-14 - Balak's Second Attempt")). Here, the ritual of building seven altars and offering seven bullocks and seven rams is repeated, mirroring the previous scene. Verse 15 marks the precise moment of transition, where Balaam separates himself to receive the second oracle, setting the stage for the powerful declaration of God's blessing upon Israel in [Numbers 23:18-24](/numbers/23-18 "Numbers 23:18-24 - Balaam's Second Oracle"). The repetition of the ritualistic preparation emphasizes Balak's persistent, yet ultimately futile, efforts to manipulate divine will.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds as Israel is encamped on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land ([Numbers 22:1](/numbers/22-1 "Numbers 22:1 - Israel in Moab")). Balak, King of Moab, along with the Midianites, perceives Israel as a formidable threat, leading him to employ a renowned foreign diviner, Balaam of Pethor ([Numbers 22:5](/numbers/22-5 "Numbers 22:5 - Balaam's Origin")). In the ancient Near East, it was common practice for nations to hire seers or diviners to invoke curses or blessings on their enemies or allies, believing that such pronouncements held supernatural power. The burnt offering (`olah`) was a widespread sacrificial practice, often intended to appease deities or gain their favor. Balaam's method of withdrawing "yonder" reflects a common ancient practice of seeking solitude or a liminal space to receive divine communication, whether through dreams, visions, or direct speech. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) in the text, even by a non-Israelite, is significant, indicating that Balaam was encountering the God of Israel, not a pagan deity, despite the pagan context of Balak's rituals.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty**: despite Balak's desperate attempts and Balaam's mercenary intentions, God remains absolutely in control, ensuring that only His word is spoken ([Numbers 23:19-20](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19-20 - God's Unchangeable Word")). Secondly, it underscores the **Futility of Human Manipulation**: Balak's elaborate rituals and offerings are shown to be utterly ineffective in altering God's predetermined plan to bless Israel. Thirdly, it touches upon the theme of **Revelation and Prophecy**: Balaam, though a pagan diviner, becomes an unwilling conduit for the true God's message, demonstrating God's ability to communicate His will through unexpected channels. Finally, the narrative reinforces God's **Covenant Faithfulness** to Israel, protecting them from external threats and ensuring their destiny, as promised to Abraham ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - Abrahamic Covenant")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _‘ōlāh'_):** This refers to a whole burnt offering, where the entire animal was consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion, atonement, or seeking divine favor. In this context, it is Balak's attempt to appease or influence God to curse Israel, reflecting a pagan understanding of sacrifice as a means to manipulate the divine.
* **Meet (Hebrew, _qārā’'_):** While often meaning "to call" or "to summon," in this construct, it implies an encounter or a rendezvous. Balaam is not merely calling out to God but is going to a designated place to have a direct, intentional encounter, expecting to receive a word or vision.
* **Yonder (Hebrew, _hālʾāh'_):** This adverb denotes a direction "further on," "beyond," or "away." It signifies Balaam's physical separation from Balak and the altars, creating a space of solitude for divine communication, a common practice for prophets and seers in the ancient world.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto Balak":** This establishes Balaam as the speaker, directing the Moabite king. It highlights Balaam's authority in the ritualistic process, even though he is an outsider hired by Balak.
* **"Stand here by thy burnt offering":** Balaam instructs Balak to remain with the sacrifices. This emphasizes Balak's role as the one providing the offerings and awaiting the outcome, while Balaam acts as the intermediary. It also suggests that Balak's presence might be seen as a distraction or an impurity during Balaam's solitary encounter with the divine.
* **"while I meet [the LORD] yonder":** This is the core of Balaam's action. He is intentionally separating himself from the immediate ritual site and the king to seek a direct encounter with "the LORD" (YHWH), the covenant God of Israel. This phrase underscores his expectation of receiving a divine message and his method of seeking revelation through solitude.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices. **Repetition** is evident in the mirroring of the sacrificial ritual from [Numbers 23:1-2](/numbers/23-1 "Numbers 23:1-2 - First Sacrifices") to [Numbers 23:14-15](/numbers/23-14 "Numbers 23:14-15 - Second Sacrifices"), emphasizing Balak's persistent but futile attempts to coerce God. **Irony** is present in Balaam, a pagan diviner, repeatedly encountering and being compelled to speak for YHWH, the God of Israel, whom Balak intends to curse. The phrase "meet the LORD yonder" also functions as **Foreshadowing**, signaling that a divine encounter is imminent and that the subsequent oracle will reveal God's unalterable will, setting the stage for the powerful blessings that follow. The entire narrative can be seen as a **Dramatic Confrontation** between human will (Balak's desire to curse) and divine will (God's determination to bless).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 23:15 powerfully illustrates the absolute sovereignty of God over all human endeavors, even those steeped in pagan ritual and malevolent intent. Balaam's repeated withdrawal to "meet the LORD" underscores that true revelation originates solely from God, not from human manipulation or the quantity of sacrifices. Despite Balak's desperate attempts to coerce a curse, God demonstrates His unyielding faithfulness to His covenant promises, turning intended curses into blessings. This passage serves as a profound reminder that God's purposes for His people cannot be thwarted by any earthly power or spiritual scheme.

* [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")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10 "The LORD Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 23:15 invites us to reflect on the nature of divine encounter and the futility of attempting to manipulate God. In a world often driven by a desire for control and immediate gratification, this verse reminds us that God is not a cosmic vending machine whose will can be swayed by our rituals or demands. Instead, He is sovereign, immutable, and faithful to His word. For believers, this instills profound confidence: if God could prevent a powerful diviner from cursing His people, He certainly has the power to work all things for the good of those who love Him, even amidst opposition. It calls us to approach God with humility and submission, seeking His will rather than imposing our own, trusting that His plans are always for our ultimate good and His glory. This truth frees us from anxiety over external threats and empowers us to rest in His unwavering control.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Balaam's repeated attempt to "meet the LORD" challenge or affirm your understanding of seeking God's will?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to "manipulate" spiritual outcomes rather than trusting God's sovereign plan?**
* **How does the unthwartable nature of God's plans, as seen in this passage, bring you comfort or challenge?**

### FAQ
**Why did Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner, interact with "the LORD" (YHWH)?**

Answer: While Balaam was a pagan diviner from Mesopotamia, the text consistently refers to his interaction with "the LORD" (YHWH), the covenant God of Israel, not a local deity. This highlights God's universal sovereignty and His ability to communicate His will to anyone He chooses, even those outside the covenant community, to accomplish His purposes. Balaam's encounter demonstrates that God's power and authority extend beyond the boundaries of Israel, and He can use even unwilling instruments to declare His truth, as seen in [Numbers 22:35](/numbers/22-35 "The Angel's Command to Balaam"). This underscores that God is the one true God over all nations.

**What was the significance of the "burnt offering" in this context?**

Answer: The "burnt offering" (`olah`) was a common sacrifice in the ancient Near East, often made to appease deities, seek favor, or gain insight. In this narrative, Balak provided the burnt offerings, hoping they would compel God to curse Israel. However, the repeated failure of Balaam to utter a curse, despite the offerings, demonstrates that God is not manipulated by human rituals or sacrifices. His will is sovereign and cannot be coerced by external acts, emphasizing that true worship involves obedience and a right heart, not just ritualistic performance, a theme echoed in passages like [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice").

**Why did Balaam go "yonder" to meet the LORD?**

Answer: Balaam's action of going "yonder" (away from Balak and the altars) reflects a common ancient practice of seeking solitude or a liminal space to receive divine revelation. Prophets and seers often withdrew to quiet places, mountaintops, or wilderness areas to open themselves to visions, dreams, or direct speech from the divine. For Balaam, this separation was part of his established method for receiving oracles, indicating his expectation of a direct encounter with the supernatural, even if his ultimate motives were mercenary. This practice of seeking solitude for divine encounter is also seen in the lives of biblical figures like Moses ([Exodus 3:1](/exodus/3-1 "Moses at Horeb")) and Elijah ([1 Kings 19:8](/1-kings/19-8 "Elijah's Journey to Horeb")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 23:15, with Balaam's inability to curse God's people despite elaborate rituals, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate inability of any power, human or spiritual, to thwart God's redemptive plan centered on Christ. Just as Balak's sacrifices could not manipulate God, no amount of human effort or opposition could prevent God from sending His Son. The unchangeable word of God declared through Balaam, that Israel would be blessed, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God's blessing to all nations ([Galatians 3:8-9](/galatians/3-8 "Galatians 3:8-9 - The Gospel Preached to Abraham")). Christ is the true "Lamb of God" whose ultimate sacrifice on the cross ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) truly secures blessing and atonement, unlike the temporary and ineffective burnt offerings of Balaam and Balak. In Christ, God's people are not merely preserved from curses, but are actively blessed with every spiritual blessing ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed in Christ")) and eternally secured in His love, demonstrating that God's sovereign will to redeem cannot be overturned by any adversary ([Romans 8:31-39](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31-39 - God is For Us")).

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.