1 And when Balaam H1109 saw H7200 that it pleased H5869 H2895 the LORD H3068 to bless H1288 Israel, H3478 he went H1980 not, as at other times, H6471 to seek H7125 for enchantments, H5173 but he set H7896 his face H6440 toward the wilderness. H4057
Surely there is no enchantment H5173 against Jacob, H3290 neither is there any divination H7081 against Israel: H3478 according to this time H6256 it shall be said H559 of Jacob H3290 and of Israel, H3478 What hath God H410 wrought! H6466
And Balaam H1109 rose up H6965 in the morning, H1242 and said H559 unto the princes H8269 of Balak, H1111 Get H3212 you into your land: H776 for the LORD H3068 refuseth H3985 to give me leave H5414 to go H1980 with you.
Behold, I have received H3947 commandment to bless: H1288 and he hath blessed; H1288 and I cannot reverse H7725 it.
Behold, these H2007 caused H1961 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 through the counsel H1697 of Balaam, H1109 to commit H4560 trespass H4604 against the LORD H3068 in the matter H1697 of Peor, H6465 and there was a plague H4046 among the congregation H5712 of the LORD. H3068
Then Saul H7586 said H559 to David, H1732 Blessed H1288 be thou, my son H1121 David: H1732 thou shalt both do H6213 great H6213 things, and also shalt still H3201 prevail. H3201 So David H1732 went H3212 on his way, H1870 and Saul H7586 returned H7725 to his place. H4725
But G235 I have G2192 a few things G3641 against G2596 thee, G4675 because G3754 thou hast G2192 there G1563 them that hold G2902 the doctrine G1322 of Balaam, G903 who G3739 taught G1722 G1321 Balac G904 to cast G906 a stumblingblock G4625 before G1799 the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 to eat G5315 things sacrificed unto idols, G1494 and G2532 to commit fornication. G4203
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 24
Commentary on Numbers 24 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 24
This chapter continues and concludes the history of the defeat of the counsels of Balak and Balaam against Israel, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts; and as great an instance it is of God's power over the children of men, and his favour towards his own children, as any of the victories recorded in the book of the wars of the Lord. What preparation was made the third time for the cursing of Israel we read of in the close of the foregoing chapter. In this chapter we are told,
Num 24:1-9
The blessing itself which Balaam here pronounces upon Israel is much the same with the two we had in the foregoing chapter; but the introduction to it is different.
Num 24:10-14
We have here the conclusion of this vain attempt to curse Israel, and the total abandonment of it.
Num 24:15-25
The office of prophets was both to bless and to prophesy in the name of the Lord. Balaam, as a prophet, per force had blessed Israel; here he foretels future events.