Numbers 22
1 Balak's first message for Balaam is refused.
15 His second message obtains him.
22 An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his ass.
36 Balak entertains him.
Israelites <01121> [the children.]
side <05676> [on this side.]
elders <02205> [elders.]
mass of people <06951> [Now shall.]
Balak <01111> [And Balak.]
sent <07971> [sent.]
son ................ Amaw <01121> [son of Bosor.]
Pethor <06604> [Pethor.]
Dr. Kennicott justly remarks, that "the description now given of Balaam's residence, instead of being particular, agrees with any place, in any country where there is a river; for he lived by 'Pethor, which is by the river of the land of his people.' But was Pethor, then, near the Nile in Egypt? Or in Canaan, near Jordan? Or in Mesopotamia, near the Euphrates, and belonging to the Ammonites? This last was in fact the case; and therefore, it is well that twelve Hebrew MSS. (with two of De Rossi's) confirm the Samaritan text here, in reading instead of {Æ’mmo,} 'his people,' Ammon, with the Syriac and Vulgate versions." Houbigant justly contends for this reading; and necessity urges the propriety of adopting it: and it thus agrees with De 23:4. Ptolemy calls Pethor, Pachura, and Eusebius, Pathura; who places it in upper Mesopotamia. Calmet is of opinion, that it was situated towards Thapsacus, beyond the Euphrates.
cover <03680> [they cover.]
face <05869> [face. Heb. eye.]
curse ... nation ........................................ curse ... cursed <0779 05971> [curse me.]
know <03045> [I wot.]
divination <07081> [rewards of divination.]
God <0430> [God.]
men <0582> [What men.]
able ... defeat <03898 03201> [able to overcome them. Heb. prevail in fighting against them.]
Balaam <01109 03212> [Balaam, Thou shalt.]
curse <0779> [thou shalt not curse.]
blessed <01288> [for they.]
Lord <03068> [for the Lord.]
Balaam refused <01109 03985> [Balaam refuseth.]
princes <08269> [princes.]
hinder ... from coming <04513> [Let nothing, etc. Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc.]
I ... honor <03513> [I will promote.]
do <06213> [and I will do.]
<03212> [come.]
curse .... nation <06895 05971> [curse me.]
An erroneous opinion prevailed, both in those days and in after ages, that some men had the power, by the help of their gods, to devote, not only particular persons, but cities and whole armies, to destruction. This they are said to have done sometimes by words of imprecation; of which there was a set form among some people, which ’schines calls [diorizomenen aran ,] "the determinate curse." Macrobius has a whole chapter on this subject. He gives us two of the ancient forms used in reference to the destruction of Carthage; the first, which was only pronounced by the dictator, or general, was to call over the protecting deities to their side, and the other to devote the city to destruction, which they were supposed to have abandoned. The Romans held, that no city would be taken till its tutelary god had forsaken it; or if it could be taken, it would be unlawful, as it would be sacrilege to lead the gods into captivity. Virgil intimates, that Troy was destroyed because {Excessere omnes adytis, arisque relictis dii, quibus imperium hoc steterat,} "All the gods, by whose assistance the empire had hitherto been preserved, forsook their altars and temples." See more on this subject in Dr. A. Clarke, Bp. Patrick, and Burder's Oriental Customs, No. 734.
Balak .... Balak <01111> [If Balak.]
could <03201> [I cannot.]
God <0430> [God.]
<0582> [If the men.]
but <0389> [but yet.]
God's <0430> [God's.]
angel <04397> [and the angel.]
stood <03320> [stood.]
donkey saw .................... donkey ................ donkey <07200 0860> [the ass saw.]
donkey ..................... donkey ... aside .............. donkey ..... turn <0860 05186> [the ass turned.]
pressed ....... crushed Balaam's <01109 03905> [crushed Balaam's.]
way <01870> [where was no way.]
Balaam ... Balaam ... angry ... he <01109 0639> [and Balaam's anger.]
Lord opened <06605 03068> [the Lord opened.]
And where is the wonder of all this? If the ass had opened her own mouth, and reproved the rash prophet, we might well be astonished; but when God opens the mouth, an ass can speak as well as a man. It is to no purpose to speak of the construction of the ass's mouth, of the formation of the tongue and jaws being unfit for speaking; for an adequate cause is assigned for this wonderful effect, "The Lord opened the mouth of the ass"; and no one who believes in a God, can doubt of his power to do this and much more.
done <06213> [What have I.]
kill <02026> [for now would.]
donkey said ........ donkey ......................... said <0559 0860> [the ass said.]
ridden <07392> [upon which thou hast ridden. Heb. who hast ridden upon me. ever since I was thine. or, ever since thou wast, unto, etc.]
<01540> [opened.]
bowed <06915> [bowed down.]
down .... face <0639 07812> [fell flat on his face. or, bowed himself.]
beaten <05221> [Wherefore.]
oppose ....... doing <07854 01870> [withstand thee. Heb. be an adversary unto thee.]
doing <01870> [thy way.]
[before me.]
killed <02026> [surely.]
sinned <02398> [I Have sinned.]
<07489> [if it displease thee. Heb. be evil in thine eyes.]
back <07725> [I will get.]
<03212> [Go.]
speak ....... speak .... So <01696> [I shall speak.]
out <03318> [went.]
border .......... territory <01366> [the border.]
[I am not able.]
able <03201> [have I.]
word <01697> [the word.]
<02351> [Kirjath-huzoth. or, a city of streets.]
Probably Rabbath-Moab, now called Rabba, the capital of the Moabites; and being the royal city, distinguished by its streets.
<01116> [high places.]
{Bamoth baal,} "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in ch. 21.19, 20; evidently not far from Baal-meon, in the mountains of Abarim: for the Israelites were now encamped in the plains of Moab, which these mountains overlook. Baal, which signifies a lord or governor, was a name common to many idols; and probably here was the same as Chemosh, the god of Moab.
extent <07097> [utmost.]
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