Numbers 23:9

_FOR FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCKS I SEE HIM, AND FROM THE HILLS I BEHOLD HIM: LO, THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL ALONE, AND SHALL NOT BE RECKONED AMONG THE NATIONS._ From the top - literally 'a bare place' on the rocks, to which Balak had taken him; because it was deemed necessary to see the people who were to be devoted to destruction. But that commanding prospect could contribute nothing to the accomplishment of the king's object; because the destiny of Israel was to be a distinct, special people, separated from the rest of the nations in government, religion, customs, and divine protection (see the note at Deuteronomy 33:28). 'So that, although I might be able to gratify your wishes against other people, I can do nothing against them' (Exodus 19:5;...

9_For from the top of the rocks I see him. _Unless I am mistaken, the meaning is that, although he only beheld the people from afar, so that he could not accurately perceive their power from so high and distant a spot, still they portended to him something great and formidable. A closer view generally intimidates men; besides, a body of twenty thousand men then dazzles our sight, as if the number were five times as great: whilst the real extent of a thing is also more accurately ascertained. But Balaam declares, in the spirit of prophecy, that he sees far more in the people of God than their distance from him would allow; for, posted as he was on a high eminence, he would have only belleld them as dwarfs with the ordinary vision of men. He says, that “the people shall dwell alone,” as being by no means in want of external support: for לבדד, _lebadad, _is equivalent to _solitarily _or sep...

1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffered...

Verse Numbers 23:9. _FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCKS I SEE HIM_] That is, from the high places of Baal where he went, Numbers 22:41, that he might the more advantageously see the _whole_ camp of Israel. _THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL ALONE_] They shall ever be preserved as a _distinct nation_. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled through a period of 3300 years to the present day. This is truly astonishing....

FOR FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCKS ... - The “for” indicates the constraint under which Balaam felt himself. He had been met by God in his own way; from the cliff he had watched for the expected augury; and by the light of this he here interprets, according to the rules of his art, the destiny of Israel. DWELL ALONE - i. e., apart from others, undisturbed by their tumults, and therefore in safety and just security. Compare the same idea in marginal reference; Jeremiah 49:31; and Micah 7:14. This tranquility was realized by the Israelites so long as they clave to God as their shelter and protection. But the inward “dwelling alone” was the indispensable condition of the outward “dwelling alone,” and so soon as the influence of the pagan world

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

FOR FROM THE TOP OF THE ROCKS I SEE HIM, AND FROM THE HILLS I BEHOLD HIM,.... That is, Israel in their camps; Balaam being at this time on the top of a rock, or on an high hill, from whence he had a view of Israel, encamped in the plains of Moab below him: LO, THE PEOPLE SHALL DWELL ALONE; this certainly respects their dwelling in the land of Canaan, where they dwelt a separate people from all others, distinguished by their language, religion, laws, customs, and manner of living, being different both in their clothing, and in their food, from other people; nor had they dealings, nor did they company with those of other nations; see Esther 3:8 "or shall dwell safely" z, or securely, not so much because of the situation of their country, but because of the protection of the Almighty; see De

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 ...

BALAAM'S FIRST ORACLE. Its purport is that the secure independence, the imposing numbers, and the undisturbed prosperity of Israel are proof that the people have not been cursed by God and therefore cannot be cursed by Balaam. The poem, which may have been incorporated, rather than composed, by the author of the narrative, seems to date from a period when Israel was most prosperous (_i.e._ some time during the undivided monarchy; _cf._ on Numbers 24:7; Numbers 24:17). NUMBERS 23:7. ARAM: _ i.e_. Aram-naharaim (Genesis 24:10 *,...

NOT BE RECKONED. Therefore cannot be in the judgment of Matthew 25, or confused with "the Gentiles, or with the church of God". 1 Corinthians 10:32....