Numbers 23:4

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} met {H7136} Balaam {H1109}: and he said {H559} unto him, I have prepared {H6186} seven {H7651} altars {H4196}, and I have offered {H5927} upon every altar {H4196} a bullock {H6499} and a ram {H352}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God met Bil'am, who said to him, "I prepared the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Berean Standard Bible

and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 23:4 marks a pivotal moment where the omnipotent God directly intervenes in the plans of Balak, King of Moab, and Balaam, a renowned diviner. Despite Balaam's elaborate ritual preparations involving seven altars and corresponding sacrifices, the verse highlights God's sovereign initiative in meeting Balaam, thereby asserting divine control over the impending prophetic utterance. This encounter demonstrates that no human scheme, ritual, or power can thwart God's ultimate will concerning His chosen people, Israel, ensuring that His divine purpose will prevail.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 23:4 is situated within the larger narrative of Balaam's oracles, spanning [Numbers 22-24](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22-24 - The Oracles of Balaam"). Following Israel's decisive victories over the Amorites and Og, Balak, the Moabite king, becomes terrified of their vast numbers and seeks to neutralize them supernaturally. He dispatches envoys to Pethor, Mesopotamia, to hire Balaam, a diviner renowned for his ability to bless or curse. Initially, God explicitly forbids Balaam from going or cursing Israel, as clearly stated in [Numbers 22:12](/numbers/22-12 "Numbers 22:12 - God's Command to Balaam"). However, after further, more insistent entreaties from Balak and a divine allowance (with strict conditions for Balaam to speak only what God commands), Balaam journeys to Moab. Upon arrival, Balak takes Balaam to various vantage points overlooking Israel, hoping to elicit a curse. Before each oracle, Balaam instructs Balak to prepare seven altars and offer seven bullocks and seven rams. Numbers 23:4 specifically describes the first instance of God meeting Balaam after these initial, extensive preparations, setting the stage for the first of four divine oracles that Balaam is supernaturally compelled to deliver, each blessing Israel instead of cursing them.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The ancient Near East (ANE) was rife with practices of divination, magic, and the hiring of professional seers or prophets to influence outcomes, particularly in matters of warfare and national security. Kings like Balak would routinely employ such figures to gain advantage or protection against perceived threats. The number "seven" held immense symbolic meaning across many ANE cultures, often representing completeness, perfection, or divine fullness, making the preparation of seven altars and seven pairs of animals a highly potent and comprehensive ritual offering intended to secure a powerful divine response. Sacrifices of bullocks and rams were common and costly offerings, indicative of a serious attempt to appease or invoke deities. Balaam, hailing from Mesopotamia, would have been deeply steeped in these traditions, and his meticulous adherence to ritual demonstrates his understanding of contemporary religious practices, aiming to manipulate or persuade the divine powers. However, the narrative of Numbers 23:4 underscores a profound theological distinction: the God of Israel is not subject to human manipulation or pagan rituals but acts according to His own sovereign will, even using an unwilling pagan diviner to declare His purposes for His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the broader Pentateuch. The most prominent is **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute control over all circumstances, even the actions of those who oppose His will or operate outside His covenant. God's direct intervention with Balaam, despite the latter's pagan background and Balak's hostile intent, highlights that no human scheme or spiritual power can thwart God's purposes for His chosen people, Israel. This powerfully reinforces the theme of God's **Unwavering Protection of Israel**, showcasing His faithfulness to His covenant promises even when Israel is vulnerable or disobedient. Furthermore, the encounter emphasizes the theme of **Revelation vs. Ritual**. While Balaam meticulously performs elaborate rituals, the true divine communication comes solely from God's initiative—He "met" Balaam and subsequently put words in his mouth, as seen in [Numbers 23:5](/numbers/23-5 "Numbers 23:5 - God Puts Words in Balaam's Mouth"), not as a result of Balaam's sacrifices. This underscores that genuine divine encounter and prophecy stem from God's sovereign choice and relationship, rather than human performance or attempts to manipulate the divine.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Met (Hebrew, _qârâh'_):** This verb (H7136) means "to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor)." While it can imply a chance encounter, in the context of a divine subject, especially in the Nifal stem (as the form `vayyiqqar'` suggests), it conveys a deliberate, intentional encounter initiated by God. It is crucial that God "met" Balaam, rather than Balaam successfully summoning God through his rituals. This emphasizes God's sovereignty and His control over the prophetic process, ensuring that His message, not Balaam's, will be delivered.
* **Altars (Hebrew, _mizbêach'_):** Derived from the root "to slaughter" (H4196), this word refers to a place of sacrifice. Balaam's preparation of "seven altars" signifies a comprehensive and potent attempt to invoke divine power through ritual. In the ancient world, altars were focal points for communion with deities, where offerings were presented to gain favor or elicit a response. Balaam's meticulous construction of multiple altars underscores his belief in the efficacy of such practices to influence the divine, contrasting sharply with the narrative's demonstration that the God of Israel is not swayed by human ritual but acts according to His own will.
* **Seven (Hebrew, _shebaʻ'_):** This numeral (H7651) holds immense symbolic weight in biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, frequently signifying completeness, perfection, or divine action and purpose. Balaam's preparation of "seven altars" and "seven bullocks and seven rams" reflects a common ANE practice of multiplying offerings to ensure a powerful and effective ritual outcome, aiming for a complete and undeniable divine response. However, in this narrative, the number highlights the futility of human attempts to manipulate God; God's will prevails not because of the ritual's completeness, but despite it, demonstrating His absolute independence from human efforts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God met Balaam":** This opening clause is profoundly significant, immediately establishing God's initiative and absolute sovereignty. It is not Balaam who successfully summons God through his pagan rituals, but God, the supreme `ʼĕlôhîym` (H430), who sovereignly chooses to "meet" Balaam. This encounter is a divine appointment, demonstrating God's direct involvement in the situation and His absolute control over the prophet's words and actions, even those of a non-Israelite diviner. It sets the stage for God to dictate the message, entirely subverting Balak's hostile intentions.
* **"and he said unto him":** This phrase identifies Balaam as the speaker, responding to God's presence and initiative. It indicates that Balaam is now in a position to communicate with God, albeit under God's terms and authority. This prepares the reader for Balaam's subsequent explanation of his elaborate preparations, which immediately follows, setting up the contrast between human effort and divine sovereignty.
* **"I have prepared seven altars":** Balaam's statement reveals his meticulous adherence to ritualistic practices common in the ancient world. The "seven altars" (H4196) signify a comprehensive and potent attempt to invoke divine power, aiming for a complete and effective spiritual outcome. This highlights Balaam's reliance on human effort and traditional methods to achieve his goal, which stands in stark contrast to the divine sovereignty that is about to be displayed, where God's will is enacted independently of such preparations.
* **"and I have offered upon [every] altar a bullock and a ram":** This clause further details the extent of Balaam's elaborate preparations. The offering of seven bullocks (H6499, `par`) and seven rams (H352, `ʼayil`), one pair on each of the seven altars, represents a significant investment and a powerful ritual intended to secure a divine response. It underscores Balaam's understanding of the magnitude of the task (cursing Israel) and his belief that such extensive sacrifices would compel a deity to act according to his will. However, the narrative will soon demonstrate that the God of Israel is not swayed by the scale of human ritual but acts according to His own immutable plan and covenant promises.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 23:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey its theological message. **Irony** is central, as Balaam, hired by Balak to curse Israel, meticulously prepares to invoke a deity, only for the God of Israel to meet him and ultimately compel him to bless Israel. His elaborate rituals, intended to manipulate the divine, become the very setting for God to assert His unchallengeable will, rendering Balaam's efforts ironically futile in achieving his intended outcome. The verse also utilizes **Symbolism**, particularly through the number "seven" (H7651), which universally connotes completeness, perfection, or divine fullness. Balaam's use of seven altars and seven sacrifices symbolizes his comprehensive effort to achieve a perfect and potent curse, yet this very symbolism underscores the futility of human attempts to control divine power. Furthermore, the scene presents a form of **Dramatic Tension** as the reader anticipates the outcome of this divine encounter, knowing Balak's hostile intentions and Balaam's initial instructions from God. This tension is powerfully resolved in the subsequent verses as God puts words in Balaam's mouth, turning the intended curse into an undeniable blessing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 23:4 serves as a powerful testament to God's absolute sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It demonstrates that God is not a deity who can be manipulated by human rituals, pagan practices, or the schemes of hostile kings. Instead, He is the supreme ruler who orchestrates events, even using unwilling instruments like Balaam, to accomplish His divine purposes. This encounter underscores the theological truth that God's plans for His people are unchangeable and cannot be thwarted by any earthly or spiritual opposition. It reinforces the idea that true divine revelation flows from God's initiative, not from human performance or attempts to coerce Him. The God who "met" Balaam is the same God who actively intervenes in history to protect, guide, and bless His chosen ones, ensuring that His word prevails above all human intentions and machinations.

* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")
* [Proverbs 19:21](/proverbs/19-21 "Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.")
* [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 23:4 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers, providing immense reassurance that God's sovereign hand is meticulously at work in all circumstances, even amidst opposition, confusion, or the seemingly powerful machinations of those who wish us ill. Just as God could not be manipulated by Balaam's elaborate rituals, so too our God is not swayed by outward religious performance or attempts to coerce His will through formulaic prayers or superficial acts. This verse calls us to trust implicitly in God's ultimate control, recognizing that His purposes for His people, and for us as His children, cannot be thwarted. It encourages us to abandon any notion that our spiritual success or God's favor depends on human effort or ritualistic perfection, and instead to cultivate a deeper reliance on God's grace and His divine initiative. Our focus should be on diligently listening for His voice, humbly submitting to His revealed will, and trusting that He will accomplish His good purposes, often in ways that defy our expectations and humble our pride, all for His glory and our ultimate good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's initiative in "meeting" Balaam challenge our assumptions about how God operates or how we might seek His presence and guidance?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be relying on "prepared altars" (human effort, rituals, or strategic planning) rather than fully trusting in God's sovereign intervention and provision?**
* **How does the truth of God's unthwartable plan for Israel, as demonstrated in this passage, encourage you in the face of personal challenges, professional setbacks, or global uncertainties?**
* **What does this passage teach us about the nature of true prophecy and divine revelation compared to human attempts at spiritual manipulation or control?**

### FAQ
**Why did God meet Balaam, a pagan diviner, instead of simply preventing him from reaching Balak or cursing Israel?**

Answer: God's decision to meet Balaam directly, rather than simply stopping him, serves several profound purposes. Firstly, it powerfully demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty and His ability to use anyone, even an unwilling pagan diviner, to accomplish His divine will. It shows that God is not limited by human categories or spiritual allegiances, but can work through any means necessary to achieve His ends. Secondly, by putting words directly into Balaam's mouth, as seen in [Numbers 23:5](/numbers/23-5 "Numbers 23:5 - God Puts Words in Balaam's Mouth"), God ensures that the blessings pronounced upon Israel are undeniably from Him, not from Balaam's own power or the efficacy of Balak's rituals. This public display of divine control over a renowned diviner would have been a powerful testimony to both Israel and the surrounding nations that the God of Israel is supreme, and His plans for His people cannot be thwarted. It highlights that God's purposes prevail, regardless of human intent or the methods employed against His people, reinforcing the truth that [the Lord frustrates the plans of the nations](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of the Nations").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The encounter between God and Balaam in [Numbers 23:4](/numbers/23-4 "Numbers 23:4 - God Meets Balaam"), where God sovereignly controls the words of a pagan diviner to bless Israel, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate divine intervention and blessing found in Jesus Christ. Balaam, though unwilling, was compelled to speak God's word, and his prophecies ultimately pointed to a future King from Israel who would be exalted and whose kingdom would be great, as seen in [Numbers 24:7](/numbers/24-7 "Numbers 24:7 - Balaam's Prophecy of a King"). This prefigures Christ, the true Prophet, who perfectly embodies and speaks the very words of God, not under compulsion, but in perfect obedience and unity with the Father, as profoundly described in [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God") and [John 14:10](/john/14-10 "John 14:10 - Jesus in the Father"). While Balaam offered bullocks and rams on seven altars in a futile attempt to manipulate the divine, Christ is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the singular, perfect, and ultimate sacrifice offered once for all, as detailed in [Hebrews 9:26-28](/hebrews/9-26-28 "Hebrews 9:26-28 - Christ's Sacrifice Once for All"). God's unthwartable plan to bless Israel through Balaam finds its ultimate and expansive fulfillment in Christ, through whom God extends His blessing not only to Israel but to all nations, fulfilling the ancient promise to Abraham that [all peoples on earth will be blessed through you](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - The Abrahamic Covenant"). Thus, the divine sovereignty displayed in Numbers 23:4 culminates in the person and redemptive work of Jesus, the one through whom God's eternal purposes for salvation and blessing are perfectly realized.

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 23:16

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

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Ephesians 2:9

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 16:2

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Isaiah 58:3

¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

Isaiah 58:4

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

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.