Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 22
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 22
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 22
"And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying], Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us." — Numbers 22:1-14 (ASV)
The king of Moab formed a plan to have the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had until now fought for them. He had a false notion that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil to fall upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, then he could deal with them. No one had as great a reputation as Balaam, and Balak resolved to employ him, even though he had to send a great distance for him.
It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or through him, before this; though it is probable He had, and it is certain He did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died a wicked man, an enemy to God and His people. And the curse shall not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men may utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God placed a restraint on Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel.
Balaam was no stranger to Israel's cause; so he should have answered the messengers at once that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed, but he takes a night to consider what he should do. When we entertain temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in relaying God's answer to the messengers.
Those who diminish divine restraints become a prime target for Satan's temptation, acting as if going against God's law were merely proceeding without His permission. The messengers also are not faithful in relaying Balaam's answer to Balak. In this way, many are deceived by the flatteries of those around them and are prevented from seeing their own faults and follies.
"And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab." — Numbers 22:15-21 (ASV)
A second delegation was sent to Balaam. It would be well for us if we were as earnest and constant in pursuing a good work, despite disappointments. Balak laid a bait, not only for Balaam's covetousness, but also for his pride and ambition. How earnestly we should beg God daily to mortify such desires in us!
Thus, sinners spare no effort, spare no cost, and do not care how low they stoop to gratify their luxury or their malice. Should we then be unwilling to do what is right? God forbid! Balaam's convictions charged him to adhere to God's command; nor could anyone have spoken better.
But many claim God as theirs, yet they are not truly his—precisely because they are not only his. People cannot be judged by their words; God knows the heart. Balaam's corruptions, at the same time, inclined him to act contrary to the command. He seemed to refuse the temptation, but he expressed no abhorrence of it.
He had a strong desire to accept the offer and hoped that God might give him permission to go. He had already been told what God's will was. Begging for permission to sin is certain evidence that corruption rules the heart. God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. Just as God sometimes denies the prayers of his people in love, so he sometimes grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.
"And God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam`s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay. Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me: and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak." — Numbers 22:22-35 (ASV)
We must not think that because God does not always by His providence restrain people from sin, He therefore approves of it, or that it is not hateful to Him. The holy angels oppose sin and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam because Balaam considered him his adversary; those who stop our progress in sinful ways are really our best friends, and we ought to regard them as such. Balaam receives notice of God's displeasure through the ass.
It is common for those whose hearts are fully set on doing evil to push on violently through the difficulties Providence lays in their way. The Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle performed by the power of God. He who made man speak could, when He pleased, make the ass speak with a man's voice.
The ass complained of Balaam's cruelty. The righteous God does not allow the lowliest or weakest to be abused; they will be able to speak in their own defense, or He will in some way or other speak for them. Finally, Balaam has his eyes opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and unhumbled heart. When our eyes are opened, we will see the danger of sinful ways and how much it was for our advantage to be hindered.
Balaam seemed to relent, saying, "I have sinned." But it does not appear that he was aware of this wickedness of his heart or willing to admit it. If he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content, since there is no alternative, to go back. Thus, many leave their sins only because their sins have left them. The angel declared that he would not only be unable to curse Israel but would be forced to bless them; this would be more for the glory of God and to his own confusion than if he had turned back.
"And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people." — Numbers 22:36-41 (ASV)
Balak now has nothing to complain about, except that Balaam did not come sooner. Balaam tells Balak not to depend too much on him. He seems to speak with vexation, but is really as eager to please Balak as he had ever pretended to be to please God.
See how much we need to pray every day, Our Father which art in heaven, lead us not into temptation. Let us be vigilant over our own hearts, considering how far people may go in the knowledge of God, and yet fall short of Divine grace.
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