Numbers 23:14

_AND BALAK SAID UNTO HIM, COME, I PRAY THEE, WITH ME UNTO ANOTHER PLACE, FROM WHENCE THOU MAYEST SEE THEM: THOU SHALT SEE BUT THE UTMOST PART OF THEM, AND SHALT NOT SEE THEM ALL: AND CURSE ME THEM FROM THENCE._ Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place. Balak was surprised and disappointed at this unexpected eulogy on Israel, but still hoped that if Balaam saw that people from a different point of observation he would give utterance to different feelings. THOU SHALT SEE BUT THE UTMOST PART OF THEM, AND SHALT NOT SEE THEM ALL, х_ 'EPEC_ (H657) _ QAATSEEHUW _ (H7097)] - the end of their extremity; i:e., a limited portion of them. Of course, as posts of observation, there must have been a difference between this and the former height (Numbers 22:41); but this di

11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way. There was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was not such as might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord sees that we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks upon us as accepted in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned. Oh the wonders of pro...

THE FIELD OF ZOPHIM - Or, “of watchers.” It lay upon the top of Pisgah, north of the former station, and nearer to the Israelite camp; the greater part of which was, however, probably concealed from it by an intervening spur of the hill. Beyond the camp Balaam’s eye would pass on to the bed of the Jordan. It was perhaps a lion coming up in his strength from the swelling of that stream (compare Jeremiah 49:19) that furnished him with the augury he awaited, and so dictated the final similitude of his next parable....

NUMBERS 23:1 BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his favourable consideration on their side. The number seven was especially connected with the revelation of the tree God, the Creator of the world, and was probably observed here for this reason. The sacrifices were offered no doubt to Jehovah. NUMBERS 23:3 PERADVENTURE THE LORD WILL COME TO MEET me. It might be concluded from Numbers 24:1 that Balaam went only to look for "auguries," _i.e; _for such natural signs in the flight of birds and the like a

AND HE BROUGHT HIM INTO THE FIELD OF ZOPHIM,.... Or Sede Tzophim, as Hillerus i reads it, so called from the watch tower, and watchmen in it: Jarchi says, it was a high place, where a watchman stood to observe if an army came against a city, and so a very proper place to take a view of the armies of Israel from: TO THE TOP OF PISGAH; a high hill in this place, where perhaps the watch tower was, or, however, the watchman stood: this looked towards Jeshimon or Bethjesimoth, in the plain of Moab, where Israel lay encamped, see Numbers 21:20: and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar: as he had done before, Numbers 23:2. i Onomastic Sacr. p. 935....

THE PARABLES OF BALAAM Chapter S 23-24 _ 1. The first parable (Numbers 23:1)_ 2. Balak's surprise and Balaam's answer (Numbers 23:11) 3. At Zophim (Numbers 23:13) 4. The second parable (Numbers 23:18) 5. Balak's request and Balaam's reply (Numbers 23:25) 6. Balaam's third parable (Numbers 24:1) 7. Balak's anger and Balaam's firmness ...

BALAK'S SACRIFICES PRELIMINARY TO BALAAM'S SECOND ORACLE. Balak's disappointment at Balaam's first utterance leads him to take Balaam to the field of Zophim (or the watchmen) in the hope that the different locality might dispose God to accept his renewed sacrifices and to grant his wishes. Some places were thought to be regarded by a divinity with greater favour than others (1 Samuel 5:8 *). For Pisgah, see Numbers 21:20 *. NUMBERS 23:13. SHALT NOT SEE THEM ALL: it might be expected that Balak on the second occasion would show Balaam the whole of Israel, and not a part only (as on the first); and these words may have been introduced by the editor because of the third occasion in...

Balak was angry that Jehovah did not put a curse into Balaam's mouth, and begged him to try again on another spot. The seven-fold sacrifice was again offered....

THE FIELD OF ZOPHIM TO THE TOP OF PISGAH— _Zophim,_ signifies _watchmen; and the field of Zophim_ seems to have been a plain on the top of the mountain, where watchmen were placed in order to give a signal upon the approach of enemies. See Isaiah 21:11; Isaiah 52:8. Pisgah was a very high mountain in the country of Moab, from some parts of which almost the whole extent of Canaan might be seen. Deuteronomy 3:27. But Balak, it appears, brought Balaam to that side of it where he could not see much of the camp of Israel. Spencer supposes, that in this place were the obelisks on which they placed the images of the tutelar gods of their country. De Leg. Heb. lib. ii. c. 22....

E. BALAAM'S SECOND BLESSING vv. 13-24 TEXT Numbers 23:13. And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me to another place, from whence thou mayest see them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder. 16. And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 17. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken? 18. And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he s