Numbers 22:7-14

B. GOD'S PROHIBITION vv. 7-14
TEXT

Numbers 22:7. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 10. And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11. Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 12. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 13. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 14. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 22:7. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees of their divining in their hand; and they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's words. 8. And he said unto them, Spend the night here, and I will bring back word to you according to the Lord's message to me; and the princes of Moab lodged with Balaam. 9. And God came to Balaam and said Who are these men with you? 10. And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent unto me, saying, 11. -Behold, a people has come from Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out.-' 12. And God said unto Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. 13. So Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, Go to your own land; the Lord has refused to let me go with you. 14. So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

COMMENTARY

Balaam's rejection of the messengers of Balak has been variously interpreted. IB jump quickly to his defense, calling him ... a man of the deepest integrity. wholly committed to be the mouthpiece of God, (p. 250). KD, on the other hand, properly shows that had Balaam been a true prophet he would at once have sent the messengers away and refused their request, as he must then have known that God would not curse His chosen people, (p. 166). RCP suggests cryptically that The Holy Spirit rested on Balaam only at night. So too with all other prophets of Gentile nations, (p. 164). The word of the Lord did, in fact, come to Balaam during the night.

Whatever the rewards of divination may have been, certain facts are obvious: Balak no doubt was willing to pay a high price for the soothsayer's services; here is one of the distinguishing factors between the prophet of God and false prophetssuch rewards were almost without exception refused by God's men, and the few exceptions allowed him only an insignificant amount which was not to be thought of as payment for services, but a provision for the livelihood of the prophet (see 2 Samuel 4:10; 1 Samuel 9:8; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 8:8 ff.); charging fees for their services was a practice strictly forbidden to the prophesying priests and prophets (see Micah 3:5; Micah 3:11; Amos 7:12-15; Ezekiel 13:19); Balaam doubtless would have kept the offered reward unless he was instructed by the Lord not to do so.

God did not need to ask Balaam the identity of his visitors for His own sake. The probable reason for this question is to call Balaam's attention to the type of men and their proposal, both of which he is entertaining. Their request is in direct contrast with what he knows to be the will of God; it should have been unnecessary for him to await further word. That he has delayed his answer is evidence that the temptation was strong.
The response of Balaam leaves us to infer that he hopes now to influence God and perhaps even to change His course of action. He is open about his answer to the degree that he does not misrepresent the essential facts of the situation. He certainly could not have fooled the Lord about this.
God replies in simple, Unequivocal terms: His people are not to be cursed, and Balaam must dispatch his guests without concession of any kind. It is done, and they return to Balak empty handed.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

417.

Show what motives Balaam might have had in dismissing the men sent by Balak.

418.

Under what conditions might a prophet of God accept any payment when he rendered a service in God's name? When could he not?

419.

Why did God ask Balaam about the messengers and their mission?

420.

What had been indicated by Balaam's asking the men to remain overnight?

421.

On what basis might Balaam have hoped that God would allow him to go to Balak?