Bible in one year 4/30/2022 Numbers chapter 22-24
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries:Biblical precepts & Gospel music;
Pastoral ministry & counseling
Numbers chapter 22 Israel on their plains of Moab; Balak propositions
Balaam to curse Israel
When the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan acroos from Jericho, Balak was king of Moab at that time sent message to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, asked him come to curse Israel. Pethor.(v.5) located on the W. bank of the Euphratesin northern Mesopotamia(Deut.23:4) Apparently Ballam enjoyed considerable reputation as a successful prophet. (vv.6-7), fee for divination. I.e., payment for his services. Balaam knew the true God (vv.9-20), though he also used omens(v.7;24:1) and soothsaying (Josh.13:22). What else(v.19). These words belie the grandiose affirmation of verse18, for though the Lord had told him not to go (v.12). Balaam was hoping He would change His mind and permit him to go. God did grant permission (v.20), but also expressed His displeasure with Balaam for his love of money(v.22;2Pet. 2: 15). The experience with his donkey and the angel of the Lord (vv.22-25;Gen.16:9) was designed to reinforce God’s displeasure with Balaam’s motive for going. Balaam offered to return home(v.34), but God told him to go on. Donkey saw the angel of Lord, refused to go, Balaam beat donkey three times. The Lord opened the donkey’s mouth to speak to Balaam, “ What have I done to you, to make you beat me these three times? have I been in the habit of doing this to you?(vv.28-30). The Lord opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel of the Lord and received commands, “ go with the men, but speak only what I tell you. Balak assumed that Balaam’s presence meant he would curse Israel, and Balaam’s reply is deftly ambiguous.(vv.37-38). Perhaps he yet hoped God would allow him to curse Israel and so obtain the promised rewards.
Numbers Chapter 23 Ballam three time uttered his oracle to blesses
Israel
Balaam’s first oration(in the form
of a poem) (vv.7-10) stated that Israel could not be cursed, that she was a
nation separate from all other nations, that she was a large nation so that
even the fourth part (v.10) of what he could see could not be numbered, and
that he wished he might die sharing Israel’s blessings. Pisgahis (v.14) sometimes identified with Mt. Nebo (Deut.34:1).
Here it may refer to the range of mountains that extend toward to NE. corner of
the Dead Sea, of which Nebo is the highest peak. From
this vantage point, Balaam saw another part of the camp of Israel. Once again
he predicted blessing, not cursing, for Israel (vv.18-24).
Numbers Chapter 24 Ballam predicted Israel prosperity
Almighty. Heb., shaddai (Gen.17:1). This time Balaam received a vision from God as he lay prostrate with his eyes opened; i.e., with uncluttered spiritual vision.(4). Aloes. (v.6) A very valuable 100 to 120 –foot-high tree whose resinous wood was used in perfume (Ps.45:8). Balaam was predicting prosperity for Israel. (v.5-6) Agag (v.7) was the king who Samuel killed (1 Sam.15:32-33). Balaam predicts Israel’s dominance. (v.7). Before Balaam left for home, he predicted (1) the coming of the Messiah-Ruler of Israel (v.17; the sons of Sheth is a general reference to tumult); (2) victory over Moab, Edom, the Amalekites and the Kinites (vv.17-21); (3) the Assyrian(=Asshur) captivity of Israel (v.22); (4) the affliction of Assyria and Eber (the Hebrews) by people from the Miditerranean area (Kittim,v.24).
Old Testament (NIV) Numbers
Chapter 22 Balak Summons Balaam
22:1 Then the
Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across
from Jericho.
22:2 Now Balak son of
Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
22:3 and Moab was
terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread
because of the Israelites.
22:4 The Moabites said
to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around
us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who
was king of Moab at that time,
22:5 sent messengers
to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native
land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of
the land and have settled next to me.
22:6 Now come and put
a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I
will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that
those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."
22:7 The elders of
Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came
to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
22:8 "Spend the
night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the
answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
22:9 God came to
Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
22:10 Balaam said to
God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
22:11 'A people that
has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on
them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them
away.'"
22:12 But God said to
Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people,
because they are blessed."
22:13 The next morning
Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country,
for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
22:14 So the Moabite
princes returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
22:15 Then Balak sent
other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.
22:16 They came to
Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let
anything keep you from coming to me,
22:17 because I will
reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these
people for me."
22:18 But Balaam
answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and
gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the
LORD my God.
22:19 Now stay here
tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the LORD will tell
me."
22:20 That night God
came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with
them, but do only what I tell you."
Balaam’s Donkey
22:21 Balaam got up in
the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22:22 But God was very
angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him.
Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
22:23 When the donkey
saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand,
she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the
road.
22:24 Then the angel
of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both
sides.
22:25 When the donkey
saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's
foot against it. So he beat her again.
22:26 Then the angel
of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room
to turn, either to the right or to the left.
22:27 When the donkey
saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat
her with his staff.
22:28 Then the LORD
opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to
you to make you beat me these three times?"
22:29 Balaam answered
the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I
would kill you right now."
22:30 The donkey said
to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to
this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No,"
he said.
22:31 Then the LORD
opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road
with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
22:32 The angel of the
LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have
come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.
22:33 The donkey saw
me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I
would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
22:34 Balaam said to
the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing
in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."
22:35 The angel of the
LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell
you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
22:36 When Balak heard
that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the
Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
22:37 Balak said to
Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me?
Am I really not able to reward you?"
22:38 "Well, I
have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything?
I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."
22:39 Then Balaam went
with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.
22:40 Balak sacrificed
cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
22:41 The next morning
Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.
Chapter 23 Balaam’s First Message
23:1 Balaam said,
"Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for
me."
23:2 Balak did as
Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
23:3 Then Balaam said
to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the
LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell
you." Then he went off to a barren height.
23:4 God met with him,
and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have
offered a bull and a ram."
23:5 The LORD put a
message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this
message."
23:6 So he went back
to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the princes of
Moab.
23:7 Then Balaam
uttered his oracle: "Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the
eastern mountains. 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me; come, denounce
Israel.'
23:8 How can I curse
those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not
denounced?
23:9 From the rocky
peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart
and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
23:10 Who can count
the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of
the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!"
23:11 Balak said to
Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but
you have done nothing but bless them!"
23:12 He answered,
"Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"
Balaam’s Second Message
23:13 Then Balak said
to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will
see only a part but not all of them. And from there, curse them for me."
23:14 So he took him
to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars
and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
23:15 Balaam said to
Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over
there."
23:16 The LORD met
with Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and
give him this message."
23:17 So he went to
him and found him standing beside his offering, with the princes of Moab. Balak
asked him, "What did the LORD say?"
23:18 Then he uttered
his oracle: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
23:19 God is not a
man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does
he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
23:20 I have received
a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
23:21 "No
misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God
is with them; the shout of the King is among them.
23:22 God brought them
out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
23:23 There is no
sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of
Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!'
23:24 The people rise
like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till he
devours his prey and drinks the blood of his victims."
23:25 Then Balak said
to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!"
23:26 Balaam answered,
"Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?"
Balaam’s Third Message
23:27 Then Balak said
to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please
God to let you curse them for me from there."
23:28 And Balak took
Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
23:29 Balaam said,
"Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for
me."
23:30 Balak did as
Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Chapter 24 Balaam predicted Prosperity for Israel
24:1 Now when Balaam
saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as
at other times, but turned his face toward the desert.
24:2 When Balaam
looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon
him
24:3 and he uttered
his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye
sees clearly,
24:4 the oracle of one
who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls
prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
24:5 "How
beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
24:6 "Like
valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the
LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
24:7 Water will flow
from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will
be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
24:8 "God brought
them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile
nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
24:9 Like a lion they
crouch and lie down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? "May those
who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!"
24:10 Then Balak's
anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him,
"I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three
times.
24:11 Now leave at
once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept
you from being rewarded."
24:12 Balaam answered
Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
24:13 'Even if Balak
gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my
own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say
only what the LORD says'?
24:14 Now I am going
back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to
your people in days to come."
Balaam’s Fourth Message
24:15 Then he uttered
his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye
sees clearly,
24:16 the oracle of
one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees
a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
24:17 "I see him,
but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a
scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the
skulls of all the sons of Sheth.
24:18 Edom will be
conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
24:19 A ruler will
come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."
Balaam’s Fifth Message
24:20 Then Balaam saw
Amalek and uttered his oracle: "Amalek was first among the nations, but he
will come to ruin at last."
Balaam’s Sixth Message
24:21 Then he saw the
Kenites and uttered his oracle: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest
is set in a rock;
24:22 yet you Kenites
will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive."
Balaam’s Seventh Message
24:23 Then he uttered
his oracle: "Ah, who can live when God does this?
24:24 Ships will come
from the shores of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will
come to ruin."
24:25 Then Balaam got
up and returned home and Balak went his own way.
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The
Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
