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 a pivotal moment in the Balaam narrative, as the diviner, at King Balak's insistence, prepares for his second attempt to curse Israel. Following the construction of seven altars and the offering of numerous sacrifices, Balaam instructs Balak to remain with the burnt offering while he withdraws to a solitary place, anticipating a direct encounter with the LORD to receive a divine oracle. This act highlights Balaam’s consistent methodology for seeking revelation, even as it dramatically underscores the tension between human attempts to manipulate divine power and God's absolute, unyielding sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the intricate narrative of Balaam and Balak, spanning [Numbers chapters 22-24](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22-24 - Balaam and Balak"). It immediately follows Balak's persistent efforts to secure a curse against Israel, despite Balaam's initial failure from the "high places of Baal" in [Numbers 23:1-12](/numbers/23-1-12 "Numbers 23:1-12 - Balaam's First Oracle"). Undeterred, Balak relocates Balaam to a new vantage point, "the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah" ([Numbers 23:13-14](/numbers/23-13-14 "Numbers 23:13-14 - Balak's Second Attempt to Curse Israel")), where the ritual of building seven altars and offering seven bullocks and seven rams is meticulously repeated. Verse 15 serves as the precise transitional point, where Balaam separates himself to receive the second oracle, thereby setting the stage for the powerful and unexpected declaration of God's blessing upon Israel in [Numbers 23:18-24](/numbers/23-18-24 "Numbers 23:18-24 - Balaam's Second Oracle of Blessing"). The deliberate repetition of the elaborate ritualistic preparation underscores Balak's desperate, yet ultimately futile, attempts to coerce or manipulate divine will.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative unfolds as the Israelite nation is encamped on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land ([Numbers 22:1](/numbers/22-1 "Numbers 22:1 - Israel Encamps in Moab")). King Balak of Moab, along with the Midianites, perceives Israel as an overwhelming threat, prompting him to employ a renowned foreign diviner, Balaam of Pethor ([Numbers 22:5](/numbers/22-5 "Numbers 22:5 - Balak Summons Balaam")). In the broader ancient Near East, it was a common and accepted practice for nations and rulers to hire seers or diviners to invoke curses or blessings upon their adversaries or allies, believing that such pronouncements held potent supernatural power. The "burnt offering" (`‘ôlāh`) was a widespread sacrificial practice across the region, often intended to appease deities, secure their favor, or gain insight. Balaam's action of withdrawing "yonder" reflects a common ancient practice of seeking solitude or a liminal space to facilitate divine communication, whether through dreams, visions, or direct speech. The consistent use of "the LORD" (YHWH) in the text, even when referring to Balaam's encounters, is highly significant, indicating that Balaam was encountering the God of Israel, not a pagan deity, despite the pagan context of Balak's rituals.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 23:15 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes evident throughout the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it emphatically highlights **Divine Sovereignty**: despite Balak's desperate machinations and Balaam's mercenary inclinations, God remains absolutely in control, ensuring that only His predetermined word is spoken ([Numbers 23:19-20](/numbers/23-19-20 "Numbers 23:19-20 - God's Unchanging Word")). Secondly, the passage underscores the **Futility of Human Manipulation**: Balak's elaborate rituals and numerous offerings are demonstrably ineffective in altering God's immutable plan to bless Israel. Thirdly, it profoundly touches upon the theme of **Revelation and Prophecy**: Balaam, though a pagan diviner, becomes an unwilling yet compelled conduit for the true God's message, powerfully demonstrating God's ability to communicate His will through unexpected and even resistant channels. Finally, the entire narrative, including this verse, powerfully reinforces God's **Covenant Faithfulness** to Israel, protecting them from external threats and ensuring the fulfillment of their destiny, as promised to Abraham in [Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - The Abrahamic Covenant and Blessing").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Stand (Hebrew, _yâtsab'_):** This primitive root signifies to place something so as to stay, or reflexively, to station oneself. In this context, Balaam's command for Balak to "stand here" implies a fixed, unwavering position, indicating Balak's role as the one who provides the offering and patiently awaits the divine outcome. It suggests a passive, expectant posture rather than active participation in Balaam's solitary encounter.
* **Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _ʻôlâh'_):** This term refers to a specific type of sacrifice where the entire animal was consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion, atonement, or seeking divine favor. Here, it represents Balak's attempt to appease or influence the divine to curse Israel, reflecting a transactional or manipulative understanding of sacrifice common in ancient pagan cultures, contrasting sharply with the Israelite understanding of `ʻôlāh` as an act of pure worship or atonement.
* **Yonder (Hebrew, _kôh'_):** This adverb denotes a direction "further on," "beyond," or "away." It signifies Balaam's physical separation from Balak and the sacrificial altars, creating a deliberate space of solitude and detachment for the anticipated divine communication. This act of withdrawal into a liminal space was a common practice for prophets and seers in the ancient world when seeking direct encounter with the supernatural.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said unto Balak":** This opening phrase immediately establishes Balaam as the authoritative figure in this ritualistic process, directing the Moabite king. It highlights Balaam's role as the intermediary between Balak and the divine, despite his non-Israelite background and mercenary motivation.
* **"Stand here by thy burnt offering":** Balaam instructs Balak to remain fixed at the site of the sacrifices. This command underscores Balak's primary role as the one who has provided the offerings and is now awaiting the outcome of Balaam's divine encounter. It also subtly implies a need for Balaam to separate himself from the immediate ritualistic environment and Balak's presence, perhaps to ensure the purity or focus of his solitary communion with the LORD.
* **"while I meet [the LORD] yonder":** This is the core declaration of Balaam's intent. He is intentionally separating himself from the king and the immediate sacrificial area to seek a direct, personal encounter with "the LORD" (YHWH), the covenant God of Israel. This phrase reveals Balaam's expectation of receiving a specific divine message and highlights his established method of seeking revelation through solitary withdrawal.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 23:15 effectively employs several literary devices. **Repetition** is a key element, as the instruction to "stand here by thy burnt offering" and the subsequent withdrawal to "meet the LORD yonder" mirrors the pattern established in [Numbers 23:3](/numbers/23-3 "Numbers 23:3 - Balaam's First Withdrawal"), emphasizing Balak's persistent, yet ultimately futile, attempts to coerce God's will. **Irony** pervades the scene, as Balaam, a pagan diviner hired to curse Israel, repeatedly finds himself compelled to encounter and speak the words of YHWH, the very God Balak seeks to oppose. 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, thereby setting the stage for the powerful blessings that follow. The entire narrative can be viewed as a **Dramatic Confrontation** between human will (Balak's desire to curse) and divine will (God's unwavering determination to bless His people).

### 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, the quantity of sacrifices, or the chosen vantage point. 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, affirming His ultimate control over history and destiny.

* [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/33-10-11 "The LORD Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 23:15 invites us to a profound reflection on the nature of divine encounter and the inherent futility of attempting to manipulate God. In a world often driven by a pervasive desire for control, immediate gratification, and the belief that effort alone can bend reality, this verse serves as a potent reminder that God is not a cosmic vending machine whose will can be swayed by our rituals, our demands, or the magnitude of our offerings. Instead, He is sovereign, immutable, and utterly faithful to His word. For believers, this truth instills profound confidence: if God could so definitively prevent a powerful diviner from cursing His chosen people, He certainly possesses the power and wisdom to work all things for the ultimate good of those who love Him, even amidst formidable opposition. This passage calls us to approach God with genuine humility and profound submission, seeking to align ourselves with His will rather than attempting to impose our own. It encourages us to trust implicitly that His plans are always for our ultimate good and His supreme glory, freeing us from anxiety over external threats and empowering us to rest securely in His unwavering control.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Balaam's repeated attempt to "meet the LORD" challenge or affirm your personal understanding of seeking God's will and receiving divine guidance?**
* **In what specific areas of your life might you be tempted to "manipulate" spiritual outcomes or force God's hand, rather than trusting in His sovereign plan and timing?**
* **How does the unthwartable nature of God's plans, as powerfully demonstrated in this passage, bring you comfort, and what challenges does it present to your walk of faith?**

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

Answer: While Balaam was indeed a pagan diviner from Mesopotamia, the biblical text consistently refers to his interaction with "the LORD" (YHWH), the covenant God of Israel, rather than a local or pagan 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 divine 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 when the angel of the LORD confronts Balaam in [Numbers 22:35](/numbers/22-35 "Numbers 22:35 - The Angel's Command to Balaam"). This underscores that God is the one true God over all nations and all creation.

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

Answer: The "burnt offering" (`‘ôlāh`) was a common form of sacrifice in the ancient Near East, often made with the intention of appeasing deities, seeking favor, or gaining divine insight. In this narrative, King Balak provided these burnt offerings, hoping they would compel God to curse Israel. However, the repeated failure of Balaam to utter a curse, despite the elaborate offerings, profoundly demonstrates that God is not manipulated or coerced by human rituals or sacrifices. His will is sovereign and cannot be swayed by external acts. This emphasizes that true worship involves obedience and a right heart, not merely ritualistic performance, a timeless truth echoed in passages like [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is 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, separated 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 physical separation was part of his established methodology for receiving oracles, indicating his expectation of a direct, supernatural encounter, even if his ultimate motives were mercenary. This practice of seeking solitude for divine encounter is also seen in the lives of key biblical figures such as Moses at the burning bush ([Exodus 3:1](/exodus/3-1 "Exodus 3:1 - Moses at Horeb")) and Elijah on Mount Horeb ([1 Kings 19:8](/1_kings/19-8 "1 Kings 19:8 - Elijah's Journey to Horeb")).

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

Cross-References

Numbers 23:3

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.

Numbers 22:8

And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.