Albert Barnes Commentary Numbers 23
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 23
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 23
"And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams." — Numbers 23:1 (ASV)
Balaam, after the general custom of the pagan, prefaced his divinations by sacrifice. In the number of the altars, consideration was probably given to the number of the then-known planets. Yet Balaam evidently intended his sacrifice as an offering to the true God.
"And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: peradventure Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a bare height." — Numbers 23:3 (ASV)
Balaam apparently expected to observe some phenomenon in the sky or in nature, which he would be able, according to the rules of his art, to interpret as a portent. It was for such “auguries” (not as the King James Version “enchantments” (Numbers 23:23)) that he now departed to watch; contrast (Numbers 24:1).
A high place — Or, “A bare place on the hill,” as opposed to the high place with its grove of trees.
"And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar." — Numbers 23:4 (ASV)
God met Balaam - God served His own purposes through the arts of Balaam, and manifested His will through the agencies employed to seek it, dealing in this way with Balaam in an exceptional manner. To God’s own people auguries were forbidden (Leviticus 19:26).
I have prepared seven altars - And therefore Balaam expected that God on His part would do what was desired by the donor; note.
"And he took up his parable, and said, From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel." — Numbers 23:7 (ASV)
Aram - Or, “highland.” This term denotes the whole elevated region, from the northeastern frontier of Palestine to the Euphrates and the Tigris. The country between these streams was especially designated “Aram-naharaim,” or “Aram of the two rivers:” the Greeks called it Mesopotamia; and here, according to (Deuteronomy 23:4), was Balaam’s home. Compare (Numbers 22:5) note.
"For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations." — Numbers 23:9 (ASV)
For from the top of the rocks ... - The word “for” indicates the constraint under which Balaam found 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 interprets, according to the rules of his art, the destiny of Israel.
Dwell alone - that is, apart from others, undisturbed by their tumults, and therefore in safety and true security. Compare this same idea with Jeremiah 49:31 and Micah 7:14.
This tranquility was realized by the Israelites as long as they clung to God as their shelter and protection. But the inward “dwelling alone” was the indispensable condition of the outward “dwelling alone,” and as soon as the influence of the pagan world affected Israel internally, the external power of paganism also prevailed. Balaam himself, when he eventually counseled tempting the people into sin, acted upon the knowledge that God’s blessing and Israel’s prosperity depended essentially on faithfulness to God.
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