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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Numbers 22:28

Verse Numbers 22:28. The Lord opened the mouth of the ass] And where is the wonder of all this? If the ass had opened her own mouth, and reproved the rash prophet, we might well be astonished; but when God opens the mouth, an ass can speak as well as a man. It is worthy of remark here, that Balaam testifies no surprise at this miracle, because he saw it was the Lord's doing. Of animate and inanimate things receiving for a short time the gift of speech, the heathen mythology furnishes many fictitious examples, with which I do not deem it proper to occupy the reader's time.

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See also Numbers 22:28 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS - The account was perhaps given by Balaam to the Israelites after his capture in the war against Midian. Compare Numbers 31:8. That which is here recorded was...

  • 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

    BALAAM'S JOURNEY TO BALAK WITHOUT GOD'S CONSENT. This section is clearly not the sequel of the preceding, but the continuation of Numbers 22:5, and (as far as Numbers 22:34) is derived from J. Balaam...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jehovah was angry with Balaam for going, and His -Angel" hindered him on the way....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The miracle here recorded finds no parallel in the O.T. except that of the serpent who spoke to Eve (Genesis 3:1; Genesis 3:4 f.). But similar instances are to be found in the folklore of many nations...

  • 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 THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS, AND SHE SAID UNTO BALAAM, WHAT HAVE I DONE UNTO THEE, THAT THOU HAST SMITTEN ME THESE THREE TIMES?_ THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS - to utter, like a p...

  • 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

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS. — Many critics, who admit the miraculous character of the events recorded in this and the following verses, maintain the subjective character of some of the i...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּפְתַּ֥ח יְהוָ֖ה אֶת ־פִּ֣י הָ אָתֹ֑ון

  • 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 the LORD (m) opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? (m) Gave her power to speak....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The circumstances of the fact itself is unquestionable, since the apostle tells us that the dumb ass spake with man's voice. 2 Peter 2:16. And why should the thing be thought incredible? Who hath made...

  • 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

    28._And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass. _Sceptical persons criticize this passage, and ridicule it, as if Moses related an incredible fable. And, indeed, their scoff appears to be plausible, whe...

  • 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 THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS, AND SHE SAID UNTO BALAAM,.... This was a very extraordinary and miraculous affair, and effected by a supernatural power, that a dumb creature, which had not o...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? Ver. 28. _And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass._] Fear...

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

    _Opened the mouth_ Conferred upon her the power of speech and reasoning for that time. _Balaam said_ Balaam was not much terrified with the ass's speaking, because perhaps he was accustomed to convers...

  • 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...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Balaam's Ass Speaks...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, giving her power to speak articulately and distinctly in the speech of human beings, 2 Peter 2:16; AND SHE SAID UNTO BALAAM, WHAT HAVE I DONE UNTO THEE THAT T...

  • 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

    22-35 We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perha...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    i.e. THE LORD conferred upon the ass the power of speech and reasoning for that time. Impudent are those heathens that disbelieve and scoff at the Scripture for this and some such relations contained...

  • 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 22:28 LORD H3068 opened H6605 (H8799) mouth H6310 donkey H860 said H559 (H8799) Balaam H1

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ANGEL OF YAHWEH BARS THE WAY THREE TIMES (NUMBERS 22:22). Numbers 22:22 ‘And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against...

  • 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

    _If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them._ NO CONTRADICTION BETWEEN GOD’S TWO ANSWERS TO BALAAM The first time God tells him not to go; the second time He bids him go, but is angry wi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 22:22 The episode with the donkey exposes Balaam’s prophetic pretensions in a comical way: Balaam, the international expert on magic, cannot see the angel, but his donkey can!...

  • 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 Corinthians 1:19; 2 Peter 2:16; Exodus 4:11; Luke 1:37; Romans 8:22

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Opened the mouth — Conferred upon her the power of speech and reasoning for that time....

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