John Calvin Commentary Numbers 24:1

"And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness." — Numbers 24:1 (ASV)

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord. It is evident that Balaam, in order to gratify the wicked king for the sake of the reward, tried various methods and strategies to obtain an answer according to his wishes. In this way, the wicked seek to appease God by deceptive means, just as we soothe children by coaxing. And God for some time allowed him ¹⁶³ to gloat over his false oracle.

Now, however, He places him under closer constraint and, ending all delay, dictates an answer, which He compels him to deliver. For his obedience is not praised here as if, after understanding God's will, he yielded voluntarily and abandoned his monstrous greed. Instead, because there was now no more room for evasion, he dared not move, as if God had stretched out His hand to hold him in his place.

When it is said that the Spirit of God was upon him, ¹⁶⁴ after he turned his eyes toward the wilderness and saw the camp of Israel, how they were arranged according to their tribes, we must understand it this way: not that he was influenced by a sincere feeling of goodwill, so that the sight itself provided reasons for blessing, but that he was moved by the inspiration of the same Spirit, who afterwards exerted His influence in the prophecy itself.

It is said, then, that the Spirit of God was upon him, not as if it had begun to inspire him at that particular moment when he looked upon the camp of Israel, but because it prompted him to look in that direction, so that the impulse of prophecy might be stronger in him, concerning something actually before his eyes.

But after the Spirit had thus affected his senses, or at least had prepared them to be suitable instruments for carrying out his task, it then also directed his tongue to prophesy; but in an extraordinary manner, so that a divine majesty shone forth in the sudden change, as if he were transformed into a new man.

In short, the Spirit of God was upon him, showing by a clear sign that God was the author of his speech, and that he did not speak from his own natural understanding. For the same reason it is said that he took up his parable, because ¹⁶⁵ the nature of his speech was marked with unusual grandeur and magnificent brilliance.

¹⁶³ “Inhiare fallaci oraculo.” — Lat. “Q’uil fust comme a la chasse, pour obtenir quelque fausse revelation;” to be, as it were, in chase of some false revelation. — “Q’uil fust comme a la chasse, pour obtenir quelque fausse revelation;” to be, as it were, in chase of some false revelation. — Fr..

¹⁶⁴ A. V., “came upon him.” “came upon him.”

¹⁶⁵ “Sa facon de parler a eu une gravite authentique, pour toucher plus au vif ceux qui l’orroyent;” his manner of speaking possessed a genuine grandeur, in order to touch more closely to the quick those that might hear it. — Fr.