John Calvin Commentary Numbers 23:25

"And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all." — Numbers 23:25 (ASV)

And Balak said to Balaam. Here we can observe, as in a mirror, how wretchedly unbelievers are driven back and forth, alternating between vain hopes and fears; although by their changes of purpose they are still brought back to the same errors, as if their blind passion led them through a labyrinth. When Balak sees that he is deceived in his opinion, he seeks at least that the hireling prophet should neither benefit nor harm. This, however, is exactly as if he would have God lie idle; but soon he recovers his spirits and endeavors to repurchase the curse, which in his penitence he had abandoned. For this reason, he drags Balaam to another place, although he had already discovered that this was in vain. But in this way, unbelievers persistently pursue their wicked efforts: while, at the same time, the disquietude that agitates them with doubts is the just reward of their recklessness.