Numbers 22:1

_AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD, AND PITCHED IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB ON THIS SIDE JORDAN BY JERICHO._ The children of Israel set forward. The starting-point was Ije-Abarim 21:10; 33:48), on the Moabitish frontier. The Israelites had formed a regular encampment there, completed by the erection of the tabernacle; and from that place, as their headquarters, detachments (Numbers 32:39; Deuteronomy 3:14) were sent out, by which the kingdoms of Sihon and Og were successively vanquished, the various stations mentioned (Numbers 21:18) being military posts within the Amorite territory. On the return of these victorious parties to the main body the camp was removed from Abarim. Pitched in t

1._And the children, of Israel set forward. _This narrative contains many circumstances worthy of record: First, it shews that there is no stone which Satan does not turn for the destruction of the Church, and that, after he has assailed her in vain by force of arms, he attacks her by snares and secret artifices, whilst the ungodly also work under his impulse, as far as they are able, to overthrow her by deceit, and to make the promises of God, and His unchangeable decree for the preservation of the Church which He has chosen, of none effect. But God shews, on the other hand, that He so watches over His own, as to turn to their salvation whatever plots their enemies may devise for their destruction. He likewise represents as in a mirror how foolish and vain are their attempts who endeavor to undermine the grace of God; and especially He demonstrates that God’s truth will always be so com...

1-14 The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel...

CHAPTER XXII _The Israelites pitch in the plains of Moab_, 1. _Balak, king of Moab, is greatly terrified_, 2-4; _and sends to Balaam, a diviner, to come and curse them_, 5, 6. _The elders of Moab take a reward and carry it to Balaam_, 7. _He inquires of the Lord, and is positively ordered not to go_ _with them_, 8-12. _He communicates this to the elders of Moab_, 13. _They return to Balak with this information_, 14. _He sends some of his princes to Balaam with promises of great_ _honour_, 15-17....

THE PLAINS - Hebrew ערבה _‛__ărābâh_; the word is the plural of that which is used to denote the whole depressed tract along the Jordan and the Dead Sea, and onward, where it is still called the Arabah (compare Numbers 21:4 note), to the Elanitic gulf. ON THIS SIDE JORDAN BY JERICHO - Rather, across the Jordan of Jericho, i. e., that part of Jordan which skirted the territory of Jericho. This form of expression indicates the site of the camp in its relation to the well-known city of Jericho. See Deuteronomy 1:1....

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 presently explained, the king of Moab at this time, but not the king from whom Sihon had wrested so much of his territory (Numbers 21:26). He seems to be mentioned by name on a papyrus in the British Museum (see Brugseh, ‘Geogr. Inschr.,' 2, page 32). The later Jews made him out to have been a Midianite, but this is nothing but the merest conjecture....

AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD,.... From the country of Bashan, where we read of them last, after they had conquered Og the king of it, and also Sihon king of the Amorites, and settled some of their tribes in both kingdoms; the particular place from whence they came hither, according to the account of their journeys, were the mountains of Abarim, Numbers 33:48: AND PITCHED IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB the part of them they encamped in reached from Bethjesimoth to Abelshittim, Numbers 33:49, ON THIS SIDE JORDAN BY JERICHO; or Jordan of Jericho, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; a river that flowed near to Jericho, running between the plains of Moab and the plains of Jericho; according to Josephus u it was sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jericho;

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. Balaam with Balak (Numbers 22:36) The last section of the wilderness book begins with the story of Balak and Balaam. An enemy, the Gentile Balaam, has to speak the words of prophecy, predicting wonderful blessing and glory for the hosts of Israel. The advancing Israelites inspired terror and Balak (waster), the king of Moab, not willing to meet Israel in open battle, sent for Balaam (devourer of the people) to put his powerful magic spell upon Israel and curse them. Balaam, or

MOAB'S FEAR OF ISRAEL. Of these verses I comes from P, the rest from JE (the presence of both constituents being shown by the repetitions in Numbers 22:3). As the Moabites were great breeders of sheep (2 Kings 3:4), they feared that the pasturage would not suffice for both themselves and Israel (likewise a pastoral people). The reference in Numbers 22:4 (and also Numbers 22:7) to _Midian_ is probably due to an editor who wished to bring P's allusions to Balaam in Numbers 31:8; Nu

CHILDREN. sons. PLAINS OF MOAB: i.e. which had belonged to Moab....