Numbers 15:39

15:39 You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow ¹  after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. ² 

Numbers 22:22

God Opposes Balaam

22:22 Then God’s anger was kindled ³  because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose ⁴  him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.

[15:39]  ¹ tn Heb “seek out, look into.”

[15:39]  ² tn This last clause is a relative clause explaining the influence of the human heart and physical sight. It literally says, “which you go whoring after them.” The verb for “whoring” may be interpreted to mean “act unfaithfully.” So, the idea is these influences lead to unfaithful activity: “after which you act unfaithfully.”

[22:22]  ³ sn God’s anger now seems to contradict the permission he gave Balaam just before this. Some commentators argue that God’s anger is a response to Balaam’s character in setting out – which the Bible does not explain. God saw in him greed and pleasure for the riches, which is why he was so willing to go.

[22:22]  ⁴ tn The word is שָׂטָן (satan, “to be an adversary, to oppose”).