_Plains. Septuagint, "to the west of Moab." These plains had formerly belonged to that people, but the Hebrews had lately taken them from Sehon, and intended now to pass over the Jordan. The Moabites, however, being jealous of their growing power, called in the aid of the Madianites, and of the magi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of him: Israel. (Menochius) --- They knew not that God had forbidden the Hebrews to attack the Moabites, unless they were first assailed. Joseph. --- Hebrew, "Moab was much afraid of the people, because of their numbers, and was distressed ( and upon his guard) on account of the children of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elders of Madian, who dwelt also upon the Arnon, towards the lake of Sodom. These Madianites were a different people from those who inhabited the country to the east of the Red Sea. (St. Jerome) --- They were not governed by kings, but by an aristocracy, or senate of princes. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Beor. St. Peter (ii. 11, 15) reads Bosor. --- A soothsayer, or magician, ( ariolum) as this word always indicates, Josue xiii. 22. The Hebrews believe he was once a true prophet, a descendant of Buz, the son of Melcha, and the same as Eliu, the friend of Job. (St. Jerome, q. 3. Hebrew in Genesis) He... [ Continue Reading ]
Curse. The ancients placed great confidence in those whom they believed to be under the guidance of a superior spirit, whether good or bad. They thought their blessing or cursing would surely have its effect. By means of charms, they also strove to evoke or draw off the tutelary god of a place, befo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The price. Hebrew literally, "the enchantments." But they took money, to engage the soothsayer to comply more readily with their iniquitous request, 2 Peter ii. 15. (Septuagint, &c.) It was customary to offer presents to the prophets, 1 Kings ix. 7._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Night. He was accustomed to exercising his art by night; loving darkness, for his works were evil, John iii. 19. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Less. Not that he was resolved to comply with God's will, but because he found an insuperable impediment to oppose it at present. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_To stay. His desiring them to stay, after he had been fully informed already that it was not God's will he should go, came from the inclination he had to gratify Balac for the sake of worldly gain. And this perverse disposition God punished by permitting him to go, (though not to curse the people,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Angry. Either because he had not granted him permission to go, or he saw that Balaam was disposed to curse the Israelites, ver. 32. Septuagint, "the angel (Michael) rose up on the road to oppose him, " diaballein. Literally, "to calumniate, accuse, resist, or to be a satan." Hence diabolus means an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ass. The angel appeared thrice to the ass, before he was perceived by Balaam, chap. xxix. 3, 4. The second time, St. Augustine (q. 50) thinks he was standing in the vineyard. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Opened the mouth, &c. The angel moved the tongue of the ass, to utter these speeches, to rebuke, by the mouth of a brute beast, the brutal fury and folly of Balaam. (Challoner) --- St. Thomas Aquinas ([Summa Theologiae] ii. 2. q. 105) says, an angel spoke by the mouth of the ass, in like manner as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ground, with religious worship; not as God, but as an angel. See Exodus xx. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXII.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A town. Eusebius thinks it was Ar, the capital._... [ Continue Reading ]
_City, &c. Hebrew, "Kiryath, chutsoth. " Calmet would read Hares, a city mentioned, Isaias xvi. 7, 11, and styled the walls of brick, (4 Kings iii. 25,) being the same with Ar. But then the former town must be situated some where upon the frontiers of Moab, as they came from it to the capital. (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
_With him. Only two servants were mentioned, (ver. 22,) and the princes sent by Balac, ver. 15. Perhaps others from Mesopotamia might attend Balaam. (Haydock) --- The king sent parts of the victims to all. (Chaldean)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_People. From the heights or temple of Baal, or the god of Chamos, where a statue or pillar (Septuagint) was erected in his honour, (Calmet) on Mount Arabim, (Menochius) the soothsayer was enabled to take a distinct view of all the camp of Israel, (chap. xxiii. 13,) and not of a part only, as the Se... [ Continue Reading ]