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 badge of idolatry. Hengsten-berg adduces several instances in proof that the ancients were accustomed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK AND BALAAM OFFERED. — It is more probable that Balak, as a king, performed priestly functions than that Balaam performed them alone. (See Note on Numbers 22:40.)... [ Continue Reading ]
TO AN HIGH PLACE. — Rather, _to a bare or barren height_ The heathen augurs were accustomed to choose elevated places for their auspices with an extensive prospect, especially the barren summits of mountains.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD PUT A WORD IN BALAAM’S MOUTH. — “God, who had opened the mouth of the ass,” says Bishop Wordsworth, _in loc.,_ “in a manner contrary to her nature, now opens Balaam’s mouth in a manner contrary to his own will.”... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCKS I SEE HIM... — From the summit of the rocky mountain on which Balak had erected his seven altars, Balaam, according to one interpretation (see Numbers 22:41, and Note), had a full view of the outstretched camps of Israel. LO, THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL ALONE... — Better, _L... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN COUNT THE DUST OF JACOB? — These words point back to the promise made to Abraham: “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth,” &c. (Genesis 13:16). AND THE NUMBER OF THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL. — The Israelites were divided into four great encampments (Numbers 2). It is probable that... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BLESSED THEM ALTOGETHER. — Hebrew, _Thou hast blessed, to bless:_ an emphatic mode of stating that Balaam had continued to give utterance to nothing but blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT SEE BUT THE UTMOST PART OF THEM... — If this rendering be correct, it strongly confirms that interpretation of Numbers 22:41 according to which Balaam saw the whole host of Israel from Bamoth-Baal. The words may, however, be rendered thus: _Thou seest_ (i.e., here) _but the utmost part of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIELD OF ZOPHIM. — i.e., of watchers. Tne spot seems to be identified with that from which Moses afterwards surveyed the promised land (Deuteronomy 3:27), and which is described in Deuteronomy 34:1 as “the mountain of Nebo,” or Mount Nebo. It is possible, however, that Pisgah may have had more t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HATH THE LORD SPOKEN? — Balak here speaks of God under the name _Jehovah. _... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER THE SON OF MAN, THAT HE SHOULD REPENT. — The adoption of these words, with slight variation, by Samuel (1 Samuel 15:29) affords evidence of his familiarity with this portion of the Pentateuch.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH NOT BEHELD INIQUITY... — The same combination of the words _aven_ (iniquity, or injustice) and _amal_ (perverseness, or, rather, suffering or grievance) occurs in Habakkuk 1:3. THE SHOUT OF A KING. — The word which is rendered shout (_teruah_) is the same which occurs in Leviticus 23:24, an... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD BROUGHT THEM OUT OF EGYPT. — Literally, _is bringing them._ The use of the participle denotes the continuance of the action. He who brought them forth out of Egypt was still conducting them on their march. There is an obvious allusion in these words to those of Balak in Numbers 22:5 : “Behold, t... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THERE IS NO ENCHANTMENT AGAINST JACOB... — The verse may be rendered as follows: _For there is no augury in Jacob, and there is no divina-Hon in Israel. At the_ (_set_)_ time it is told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath done_ (or, _doth_). The ordinary meaning of the words _nahash_ (omen,... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A GREAT LION. — Better, _as a lioness._ (Comp. Genesis 49:9.) Balaam transfers to the whole nation that which Jacob had prophesied of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
PERADVENTURE IT WILL PLEASE GOD... — Here Balak makes mention of God as _Elohim._ He appears to be satisfied that Balaam was hindered by God from uttering the curses which he desired him to pronounce upon Israel (comp. Numbers 24:11). Or the words may have been spoken ironically (comp. Numbers 24:11... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE TOP OF PEOR. — Mount Peor was one peak of the northern part of the mountains of Abarim. It was nearer than the other heights to the camp of the Israelites. It looked toward, or over the face of _Jeshimon, i.e.,_ the waste (or, desert). See Numbers 21:20.... [ Continue Reading ]