27 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Numbers 24 In this chapter we are told, that Balaam leaving his enchantments, the Spirit of God came on him, and he spake of the happiness of Israel, and prophesied of their future greatness and glory, Numbers 24:1 which so exasperated Balak, that he ordered him at once to depart from him, Numbers 24:10. Balaam justified himself in...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And when Balsam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,.... That it was good in his sight, what he approved of, and was well-pleasing to him, and that it was his determined mind that Israel should be blessed, and not cursed, from which there was no turning him, by offering sacrifices to him, and much less by his sorceries and divinations: he...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
This chapter continues and concludes the history of the defeat of the counsels of Balak and Balaam against Israel, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts; and as great an instance it is of God's power over the children of men, and his favour towards his own children, as any of the victories recorded in the book of the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Balaam lifted up his eyes,.... Being on Mount Peor: and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; in that exact order in which they were directed to encamp under four standards, and so many tribes under each standard, Numbers 2:1 and the Spirit of God came upon him; not in his grace but in his gifts; not as a spirit of...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he took up his parable,.... His parable of prophecy, as the Targums, his prophetic speech, which, with a loud voice, he expressed in the hearing of Balak and his nobles: and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said; the preface to his prophecy is pompous, and seems to be full of pride and vanity, and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
He hath said, which heard the words of God,.... God speaking to him, which he did several times, and with which he was greatly elated, see Numbers 22:9: which saw the vision of the Almighty; not that he had a sight of any similitude of God, though the angel that appeared to him, which was Christ the uncreated angel, might appear in an human form,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and agreeable: and thy tabernacles, O Israel; which is the same thing in other words, and which may be applied figuratively to the church of God, which often goes...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
As the valleys are they spread forth,.... Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Numbers 2:3...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
He shall pour the water out of his buckets,.... That is, God shall plentifully send down rain out of the clouds upon these valleys, gardens, and trees, and make them fruitful; and this may be a figure of the grace of God, with which his churches are watered, and become fruitful by means of the word and ordinances, which is conveyed through them...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn,.... Here he repeats what he had said in a former prophecy, [See comments on Numbers 23:22]: he shall eat up the nations his enemies: the seven nations of Canaan, which should be subdued by Israel, and that with as much ease as a lion devours its prey; nor would the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
He couched,.... Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab: he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion; as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam,.... He had bore much and long, but he could bear no longer, he was quite impatient, his last words more especially must exceedingly nettle him: and he smote his hands together; as expressive of his indignation, vexation, and disappointment: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse my enemies;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Therefore now flee thou to thy place,.... His own country, from whence Balak had sent for him, and he came; begone directly, make all haste away; he speaks as one so provoked, that he could not bear him in his presence, and as threatening him if he did not at once get out of his sight: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; to bestow much...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Balaam said unto Balak,.... In order to mitigate his wrath, and bring him into a better temper: spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me: those that came to him a second time; for to the first he said nothing of what is after related, but to the last he did much the same as he had afterwards said to Balak himself: saying,
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold,.... Which are the very words he said to the princes of Moab, Numbers 22:18, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad; for though here it is the "commandment", and there the "word" of the Lord, yet it is the same word in both places in the original text:...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And now, behold, I go unto my people,.... According to thine order, I shall not stay to make thee uneasy with my company, only I crave thy patience to hear me a little before we part: come therefore, and I will advertise thee; about some things that shall come to pass in future time, respecting this people, and thine, and other nations, both near...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he took up his parable, and said,.... In this and the following verse; the same preface, in the same words, is made to his prophecy as before, [See comments on Numbers 24:3] [See comments on Numbers 24:4]; only one clause is added, "and knew the knowledge of the Most High"; that Balaam had some knowledge of God is certain from the names by...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
[See comments on Numbers 24:15]
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
I shall see him, but not now,.... Meaning not Israel, for he now saw him encamped, and at no great distance; but one that should descend from him, a famous and excellent person, and who is no other than the Messiah, as appears by what follows; him he should see, not spiritually with an eye of faith, nor corporeally with his bodily eyes in his...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Edom shall be a possession,.... Of the children of Israel, which was fulfilled in part when the Edomites became the servants of David, 2 Samuel 8:14 and when they were smitten and spoiled by Judas Maccabeus, them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.'' (1 Maccabees 5:3) and still more so when all the Edomites or...