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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Numbers 23:1

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

Build me here seven altars. Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honour of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident from Numbers 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God, although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site, and rearing a number of altars (2 Kings 18:22; Isaiah 17:8; Jeremiah 11:13; Hosea 8:11; Hosea 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions with the divine worship. The pagan, both in ancient and modern times, attached a mysterious virtue to the number seven; and Balaam, in ordering the preparation of so many altars, designed to mystify and delude the king.

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See also Numbers 23:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXIII _Being arrived at the high places of Baal_, (Numbers 22:41,) _Balaam orders Balak to build seven altars, and prepare oxen and_ _rams for sacrifice_, 1, 2. Balaam inquires of the Lord...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    Balaam, after the general custom of the pagan, prefaced his divinations by sacrifice. In the number of the altars regard was probably had to the number of the then known planets. Yet Balaam evidently...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE PARABLES OF BALAAM Chapter S 23-24 _ 1. The first parable (Numbers 23:1)_ 2. Balak's surprise and Balaam's answer (Numbers 23:11) 3. At Zophim (Numbers 23:13) 4. The second parable

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    NUMBERS 22:41 TO NUMBERS 23:6. BALAK'S SACRIFICES PRELIMINARY TO BALAAM'S FIRST ORACLE. This section proceeds from E. Balak brought Balaam to Bamoth-baal (Numbers 22:41 _mg._), the site of a sanctuary...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Balaam demanded a seven-fold sacrifice, in order to propitiate God, that He might be willing to give His prophet a message. Balak complied with the request, hoping that the message might be a curse....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS, &C.— That is, say some, in honour of that God who had consecrated the number _seven_ by ceasing from his works of creation on the seventh day. That Balaam sacrificed to Jeh...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    D. THE FIRST BLESSING OF BALAAM (NUMBERS 23:1-12) TEXT Numbers 23:1. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2. And Balak did as Balaam...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    On the meaning of these sacrifices see on Numbers 22:40. Balak may have intended these sacrifices for Baal, but Balaam at all events thinks of the God who spoke to him at Pethor and whose angel met hi...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM (CONTINUED) 1-10. First Utterance of Balaam....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 23 BALAAM’S FIRST *PROPHECY – NUMBERS 23:1-12 V1 Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build 7 *altars here. Then bring to

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XXIII. (1) BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS. — The patriarchs of old, as their pious descendants after the giving of the Law, never erected more than one altar in one place. A plurality of altars was the ba...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל ־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה ־לִ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A BLESSING INSTEAD OF A CURSE Numbers 22:41; Numbers 23:1 Notice the position of these Chapter s, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such terrible s...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first of Balaam's prophecies was uttered in the midst of strange surroundings. Sacrifices were offered to heathen gods, while Balaam turned aside to inquire of Jehovah. The result was that we hav...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The subject through this chapter is a continuation of the former. The idolatrous prince, and the impious prophet, are both busily engaged, in seeking how to curse the LORD'S Israel, whom GOD...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I would beg the Reader to observe, for it is well worth observation, what vast pains and expense bad men will put themselves to, under the cover of religion. Alas! what are seven altars, or seventy ti...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The successes given to the children of Israel alarmed some of their neighbours, more particularly Moab; and this gives occasion for a striking episode in the history which brought to issue as solemn a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._Build me here seven altars. _We more positively conclude from hence that this degenerate prophet had been by no means wont to prophesy in accordance with pure revelations from God, but that the art...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 22, 23, 24, AND 25. Moab also opposes in vain. Now they are in the plains of Moab, having only Jordan between them and the land of their rest. But had they a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND BALAAM SAID UNTO BALAK,.... When upon one of the high places of Baal, and after having taken a view of the people of Israel as they lay encamped: BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS; this was purely Heath...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. Ver. 1. _Build me here seven altars._] Here, in Baal's high places. Num 22:41 A sinful mixture,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Build me seven altars_ To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he does, Numbers 23:4. And though Balak was averse from God...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1.13.28 Balaks sacrifice. 7.18 Balaams parable. 1 AND Balaam saide vnto Balak, Build me here seuen Altars, and prepare mee here seuen oxen, and seuen rammes. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken, an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams, namely, one animal of either group for each altar. Balaam here presumed upon a show of authority...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The First Sacrifice and Prophetic Utterance....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S FIRST PROPHECY (vs.1-12) THE SANCTIFICATION OF ISRAEL Chapter 22:41 tells us that Balak brought Balaam to the high places of Baal in order to prophecy against Israel. Here he observed onl...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    NUMBERS CHAPTER 23 Balak and Balsam sacrifice: God meets him, and he blesses Israel, NUMBERS 23:1. Balak is troubled: they go to another place to curse them: they sacrifice again: Balaam consults God,...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 23:1 Balaam H1109 said H559 (H8799) Balak H1111 Build H1129 (H8798) seven H7651 altars H4196 prepare...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Balaam blesses instead of curses Israel. CHARACTERS: God, Balaam, Balak. CONCLUSION: Those who have the good will of heaven may expect the ill will of hell but God will not suffer real inj...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 23:1. _Seven altars._ The Lord commanded Job's friends to take seven bullocks and seven rams, offered no doubt on seven altars: Job 42:8. This was the highest sacrifice a nation could present....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Balak and Balaam offered on every altar._ THE SACRIFICE OF BALAK AND BALAAM I. Objectively this sacrifice was as perfect as the offerers could make it. Clearly they aimed at presenting a perfect of...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Numbers 23:1. _Build me here seven altars_. “As _seven_ was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice, and...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    NUMBERS 23:1 BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Numbers 23:1-30 And God met Balaam: and Balaam said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 15:26; 1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Chronicles 29:21; 2 Kings 18:22;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Build seven altars — To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God, as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he doth, Numbers 23:4. And though Balak was averse from God a...

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