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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Numbers 22:38

And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I have come unto thee, a statement which implied that his coming had been connected with some difficulties; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. This was not a statement of humble submission to the will of God, but one by which Balaam intended to clear his skirts in advance. The terror of the Lord was still upon him, and he felt that he would finally be obliged to submit to the will of God. At the same time, he indicated that, so far as he was concerned, he would gladly accede to the king's wishes.

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See also Numbers 22:38 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Numbers 22:38. _THE WORD THAT GOD PUTTETH IN MY MOUTH, THAT SHALL I_ _SPEAK._] Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get weal...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. EVENTS IN THE PLAIN OF MOAB FACING THE LAND 1. Balak and Balaam and Balaam's Parables CHAPTER 22 _ 1. Balak's message to Balaam (Numbers 22:1)_ 2. The journey of Balaam (Numbers 22:21) 3. Ba...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MEETING OF BALAK AND BALAAM. Partly from E. and partly from J, but the distribution between the two sources is uncertain. Probably Numbers 22:36 and Numbers 22:38 belong to E, describing (in conti...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    LO. Figure of speech _Asterismos_ (App-6). HAVE I. ? Figure of speech _Erotesis_ (App-6). GOD. _'Elohim._ Not Jehovah. Note this, and see App-4....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    At this point the narrative of E, interrupted after Numbers 22:21, is resumed. Balak went to the border of his territory to meet Balaam. A sacrificial feast was held, and on the next day Balaam was co...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. BALAAM YIELDS TO BALAK vv. 15-41 TEXT Numbers 22:15. And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND BALAAM SAID UNTO BALAK, LO, I AM COME UNTO THEE: HAVE I NOW ANY POWER AT ALL TO SAY ANY THING? THE WORD THAT GOD PUTTETH IN MY MOUTH, THAT SHALL I SPEAK._ The word that God putteth in my mouth....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM The Israelites now enter upon the last stage of their journey to Canaan. They are within sight of the land of promise, being encamped at the northern end of the Dead Sea, near the mouth of the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 22 THE KING OF THE COUNTRY CALLED MOAB REQUESTS BALAAM’S HELP – NUMBERS 22:1-14 V1 The *Israelites travelle

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם אֶל ־בָּלָ֗ק הִֽנֵּה ־ב

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BALAAM ON THE WAY Numbers 22:20 THE history is moving towards a great vindication of Israel and prediction of its coming power, all the more impressive that they are to be wrung from an unwilling wit...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BALAAM WARNED WHAT TO SPEAK Numbers 22:21 If only Balaam had abided by his first answer to Balak's request, he would have been saved from the disgrace and suffering which ensued. But he seemed to thi...

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

    We now come to the story of BaIaarn. It is evident that he was a remarkable personality. He appears in the story as a man of integrity, who attempted a literal obedience to the will of God. We are arr...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say (s) any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. (s) On my own I can say nothing, I wi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The long wished for interview is now obtained, and Balak makes sure that he shall now accomplish his wishes against Israel. But Balaam had his fears about him, as conscious sinners sometimes have, tha...

  • 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...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _OBEDIENCE WITHOUT LOVE_ ‘The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.’ Numbers 22:38 The first and most general account of Balaam would be this: that he was a very eminent person in...

  • 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, LO, I AM COME UNTO THEE,.... And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things, HAVE I NOW ANY POWER AT ALL TO SAY ANYTHING? that would be a...

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

    _In the utmost coast_ Not far from the camp of the Israelites, whom he desired him to curse. _Have I now any power at all_, &c. He here lets Balak know he was under the overruling power of God, whose...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Balaks first message for Balaam is refused. 15 His second message obtaineth him. 22 An Angel would haue slaine him, if his asse had not saued him. 36 Balak intertaineth him. 1 AND the children o...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAK HIRING BALAAM (vs.1-21) Still within Moab, Israel moved again to the plains and camped near Jordan, across from Jericho. Moab had no power to withstand them, however, though Balak, king of Moa...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    36-41 Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner. Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him. He seems to speak with vexation; but is really as desirous to please Ba...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ANY THING, to wit, agreeable to thy expectation or my own inclination. THAT SHALL I SPEAK; I am forced to do so by his superior power, and therefore be not offended with me, if I speak things unpleasi...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    NUMBERS 24:1-25. These three Chapter s form a distinct section of our book a truly marvellous section, abounding in rich and varied instruction. In it we have presented to us, first, the covetous prop...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 22:38 Balaam H1109 said H559 (H8799) Balak H1111 come H935 (H8804) power H3201 (H8799) all...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S ARRIVAL IN MOAB (NUMBERS 22:36). Numbers 22:36 ‘And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab (or ‘a city of Moab'), which is on the border of the...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Numbers 22:38 The first and most general account of Balaam would be this: that he was a very eminent person in his age and country, that he was courted and gained by the enemies of Israel, that he pro...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Balaam's visit to Balak and the strange warning on the way. CHARACTERS: God, Balak, Balaam, Angel of Jehovah. CONCLUSION: The enemies of God's people are restless and unwearied in their at...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 22:5. _To Pethor, which is by the river._ A Pethor was in Mesopotamia; the river is thought to be the Euphrates, or one of its branches, distant at least 500 miles from Moab. Deuteronomy 23:4....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Balaam went with Balak._ THE MEETING BETWEEN BALAK AND BALAAM We have here the meeting between Balak and Balaam, confederate enemies to God’s Israel; but here they seem to differ in their expectati...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 22:36 Balaam reasserts his intention to say only what God allows him to say (v. Numbers 22:38), despite the fee he has been offered....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES We now enter upon the last division of this Book, which comprises fifteen Chapter s (22–36). “In the steppes of Moab the Israelites encamped upon the border of the Promi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE COMING OF BALAAM (Numbers 22:2). NUMBERS 22:2 BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR. The name Balak is connected with a word "to make waste," and "Zippor" is a small bird. Balak was, as is

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    AND so the children of Israel sat forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab (Numbers 22:1) Moving now south from this position. on this side of the Jordan River [on the eastern side of the Jordan Ri...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 18:13; Isaiah 44:25; Isaiah 46:10;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE WOES OF THE WICKED BALAAM _Selections from Numbers 22:1_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS One of the things which sadden the soul is the way that not only professing Christians, but real believing Christians...

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