John Calvin Commentary Numbers 23:1

"And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams." — Numbers 23:1 (ASV)

Build me here seven altars. We more positively conclude from this that this degenerate prophet had by no means been accustomed to prophesy in accordance with pure revelations from God, but that the art of divination, in which he boasted, had some affinity with magical exorcisms and was infected with many errors and deceptions.

Still, this did not prevent him from sometimes being a true prophet by the inspiration of God’s Spirit. As has already been said, while the world was plunged in darkness, it was God’s will that some small sparks of light should still shine, in order to render even the most ignorant inexcusable. Therefore, since Balaam was only endowed with a special gift, he borrowed practices from various sources. These practices resembled nothing but the illusions of the devil and were utterly foreign to the true and legitimate method of consulting God.

From this came the seven victims and the seven altars. For although God, by consecrating the seventh day to Himself, and also in the seven lamps and other things, indicated that there was some perfection in that number, nevertheless, afterwards, many strange superstitions were invented. Under this pretext, Satan cunningly deluded wretched men by persuading them that secret virtues were contained in this number seven.

This frivolous subtlety also prevailed among secular writers, so that they sought confirmation of the error throughout all nature. Thus, they allege the seven planets, as many Pleiades, the Septemtriones,¹⁵³ and as many circles or zones; and again, that infants do not come into the world alive until the seventh month. They heap together many such things to prove that some hidden mystery is implied in the number seven.

This contagion also reached the Christians. For on this point, the ancients¹⁵⁴ sometimes philosophize too subtly and have generally preferred to corrupt Scripture rather than not restrict the gifts of the Spirit to this number and establish the sevenfold grace of the Holy Ghost.

It is plain that Balaam was infected by this fanciful notion when he endeavors to draw down God by seven altars and twice seven sacrifices. Let us, however, learn from Balak’s prompt compliance that the superstitious neither spare expense nor refuse anything demanded by the masters of their errors.

Therefore, we must beware lest we be rashly credulous. At the same time, we must take care that, when it is clear what we ought to do, we are not withheld by shameful passivity while unbelievers hasten so eagerly and speedily to their own destruction.

¹⁵³ “The seven stars, or Charles’s wain.” — Ainsworth. “Sed ego quidem cum L. Aelio, et M. Varrone sentio, qui triones rustico certo vocabulo boves appellatos scribunt, quasi quosdam rustico certo vocabulo boves appellatos scribunt, quasi quosdam terriones, hoc est, arandae colendaeque terrae idoneos. Itaque hoc sidus, quod a figura posituraque ipsa, quia simile plaustro videtur, antiqui Graecorum, hoc est, arandae colendaeque terrae idoneos. Itaque hoc sidus, quod a figura posituraque ipsa, quia simile plaustro videtur, antiqui Graecorum, αμαξαν dixerunt, nostri quoque veteres a bubus junctis dixerunt, nostri quoque veteres a bubus junctis septemtriones appellarunt; id est, a septem stellis, ex quibus quasi juncti appellarunt; id est, a septem stellis, ex quibus quasi juncti triones figurantur.” — A. Gell. 2:21.figurantur.” — A. Gell. 2:21.

¹⁵⁴ “Les anciens docteurs.” — Fr.