Balaam in the book of numbers chapter 23

Every ancient reference to balaam considers him a nonisraelite, a prophet, and the son of. Numbers 23 new american bible revised edition nabre chapter 23. Theyve been in this same spot for about a year and now theyre getting ready to start out on their journey to this land flowing with milk and honey that god keeps talking about. But this shows us that spiritual giftedness does not equal spiritual maturity or holiness of life. Book of numbers, chapter 23 nasb new american standard. They came to balaam and relayed to him the words of balak. The preparations having been completed, this chapter gives the first two of some seven of the prophecies of balaam. They both join in sacrificing to chamos or the devil, whom balaam styles his lord, yehovah. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people. Build me seven altars to the true god, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to god as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he does, numbers 23.

This part of numbers ends with the people camped in moab near mount pisgah. Numbers 23 new international version niv balaams first message. And though balak was averse from god and his worship, yet he would be easily overruled by balaam, who doubtless told him that it was in vain to make an address to any. Balaam said to balak, build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams. Chapter 23 1 then balaam said to balak, build me seven altars here, and here prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, 2 where he saw the people of israel camped, tribe by tribe. I have erected the seven altars, and have offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Chapter 23 records the blessings concerning israel that god revealed through balaam. Build seven altars to the true god, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to god, as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he doth, numbers 23. Balaam said, build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me. Numbers presents an account of the 38year period of israels wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant of sinai compare 1. Balak did as balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. And the lord put a word in balaams mouth, and said, return unto balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

Numbers 2225 new international version niv balak summons balaam. Balaam s place in the book of numbers mary douglas london there have been many suggestions about how the story ofbalaam fits into the book of numbers. In order to accomplish that goal, let me summarize these two chapters. These are called parables in our version, but these utterances of balaam bear no resemblance whatever to n. He sent messengers to balaam the son of beor at pethor. May 11, 2015 commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam may 11, 2015 bill pratt 2 comments the israelites have traveled around the borders of edom and have arrived in the land of moab, across the jordan river from the city of jericho. Water was the source of physical refreshment and blessing in the hot and arid near east. For this god plagued them, and 24,000 men died numbers 25. Balaam said unto balak, build me here seven altarsbalak, being a heathen, would naturally. Balaam showed up and has balak build seven altars for him to sacrifice seven oxen as well as seven rams. As they traveled, they encountered two kings who attacked them. Miriam and aaron were critical and disrespectful of moses, most likely due to envy. Instead, balaam was forced to bless the hebrews num. The holy bible numbers chapter 23 king james version.

This is the condition god puts on balaam when he allows him to go to balak, and it is reiterated throughout the oracles numbers 23. Then the king of moab hired the foreign prophet balaam to curse the people of israel. Numbers 23 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Stand a while by thy burnt offering, until i go, to see if perhaps the lord will meet me, and whatsoever he shall command, i will speak to thee. Jan 02, 2020 balak followed balaams advice, and israel fell into sin, worshiping baal of peor and committing fornication with midianite women. Numbers chapter 23 explained discover the 66 books of. Balaam sacrificed another fourteen animals and met with the lord. Every ancient reference to balaam considers him a nonisraelite, a prophet, and the son of beor, though beor is not clearly identified. The word that god puts in my mouth that must i speak numbers 22. Numbers 24, new living translation nlt the bible app. Mar 30, 2020 this is from the holy book of numbers chapter 23. Numbers 23 niv bible balaam said, build me seven altars. Chapter 23 of numbers new american standard bible nasb prev.

The first census of all of the israelites men over twenty years old was taken to account for army two years after they had left egypt, with the total being 603,550, excluding the levites 22,273 who were assigned to take care of the tabernacle. Balaam was a prophet of bel, the god of light of the babylonian triad of anubel and ea, in the land of the medians. Balaam the mystic numbers, chapters 22, 23 and 24 by studying this cryptic incident in the bible, was found an even more unsuspected statement that is usually overlooked. In the night god came to balaam, telling him not to curse the israelites.

He says and does all the right things when you first encounter him in the book of numbers. Always wanting more can produce bad results james 4. He appeals to him for his honesty and faithfulness. Balaams name and story became infamous, and he is referred to several times in the new testament. Balaam is a diviner in the torah old testament whose story begins in chapter 22 of the book of numbers numbers. Numbers 23 niv read the new international version online. Numbers 23 niv balaams first message balaam said, bible. Numbers chapter 23 summary continued with the story or drama of balaam and balaks desire to curse the children of israel. Numbers 23 kjv and balaam said unto balak, build me bible. Balaam went on to the city of moab to meet balak and said, lo i have come to you. Numbers 23 new international version niv balaam s first message. Numbers 23, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam the israelites have traveled around the borders of edom and have arrived in the land of moab, across the jordan river from the city of jericho.

David guzik commentary on numbers 23, where the prophet balaam blesses the nation of israel instead of a curse, as requested by king balak. Two of the commentaries had never been checked out before. Balaam, a sorcerer, was summoned by king balak of the moabites to curse the israelites as moses was leading them toward canaan. Study the bible online using commentary on numbers 23 and more. Balaks sacrifice, balaam pronounces a blessing instead of a curse. I found the three good commentaries that were not in my own library. A man named balaam suddenly appears in the book of numbers. Build me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams.

For honest and faithful he would be thought to be, both to god and man. Concordances dictionaries encyclopedias bible stories apocrypha books lexicons. As i was in the process of checking them out, i discovered something interesting. Prince balak continues to try to get the prophet balaam to curse israel. Balak promised to pay balaam handsomely for bringing evil upon the hebrews, whom he feared. And balak and balaam j offered on each altar a bull and a ram. It will now be said of jacob and israel, what great things god has done. And though balak was averse from god and his worship, yet he would be easily overruled by balaam, who doubtless told him that it was in vain to make an address to any other than the god of israel, who alone was able either to bless or curse them. This constraint of balaam, supposedly the worlds most powerful cursing diviner, directs the glory to god and certifies that his purpose through israel could not be hindered. In the article just cited, the author went on to suggest the translation pared or peeled of eyes numbers 23. Now balak the son of zippor saw all that israel had done to the amorites. That appears in the twenty second chapter of numbers.

The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Commentary on numbers 2223 balak hires balaam tough. Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. Introduction while i was preparing to teach on the prophet balaam, i went to the church library to check out some of the best commentaries on the book of numbers. My simple job in this lesson is to explain why we should care about what he said. He could not curse a nation that god had not cursed numbers 23. Sihon, king of the amorites, and og, king of bashan. Then the children of israel moved, and camped in the plains of moab on the side of the jordan across from jericho. Then balaam said to balak, build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams. We do not know how he came to be estimated as a prophet or a man with spiritual powers, but balak certainly knew his reputation.

And balaam said unto balak, build me here seven altars, and prepare me here. Balaam, instead of cursing israel, is obliged to bless them, and prophesy good things of them. New living translation balaam s donkey saw the angel of the lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. It was balaks intention that the covetous balaam could be bribed to curse i. Numbers 23, new living translation nlt the bible app. When upon one of the high places of baal, and after having taken a view of the people of israel as they lay encamped. I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary 28 you have only blessed them. Balaam pictured israel as a man carrying two buckets overflowing with water numbers 23. And the lord met balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, return to balak, and. Indeed, moab was filled with dread because of the israelites.

Numbers 23 balaam s first message 1 balaam said, build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me. This is the exact same place where the israelites have been hanging out since god freed them from slavery back in exodus. Then the spirit of god came upon him, 3 and this is the message he delivered. Numbers 23 balaams first message 1 balaam said, build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me. God spoke through a donkey in the previous chapter and now he spoke through a bigger donkey. The lord put a word in balaams mouth and said, go back to balak and give him this word. And balak did just as balaam had spoken, and balak and balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Numbers 23 and balaam said to balak, build for me here. And balaam said unto balak, build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. This two chapter sections is all about how a nonjewish man gives four separate speeches about the present and future nation of israel. Numbers chapter 23 balaams first message the holy bible. That when he first met him, he plainly told him what he must expect from him. We might be surprised that god spoke to and through someone as obviously wicked as balaam. As we read about the various incidents in the book of numbers, we notice how ingratitude undermines faith and produces a chain reaction in human nature.