Numbers 22:1--25:18
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.]
Build ... seven ......... seven .... seven <01129 07651> [Build me.]
seven altars ........ seven .... seven <04196 07651> [seven altars.]
seven ......... seven bulls ... seven <06499 07651> [seven oxen.]
offered <05927> [offered.]
Station yourself <03320> [Stand.]
burnt offering <05930> [burnt.]
Lord <03068> [peradventure.]
deserted height <08205 03212> [went to an high place. or, went solitary.]
God <0430> [God.]
prepared <06186> [I have prepared.]
Then ... uttered <05375> [he took.]
oracle <04912> [parable.]
The word {mashal,} which as a verb is to rule, have authority, and also to compare, as a noun signifies whatever is expressed in parabolic or figurative language. All these oracular speeches of Balaam are in hemistich metre in the original. They are highly dignified and sublime; and may be considered as immediate poetic productions of the Spirit of God. (ch. 24:2.)
Aram <0758> [Aram.]
<03212> [Come.]
denounce Israel <02194 03478> [defy Israel.]
nation <05971> [the people.]
They shall ever be a distinct nation. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled, through a period of 3,300 years, to the present day.
alone <0910 07931> [dwell alone.]
be reckoned <02803> [shall not.]
count <04487> [can count.]
dust <06083> [the dust. i.e.,]
The posterity of Jacob, which was to be so numerous as to resemble the dust.
fourth part <07255> [the fourth.]
die <04191> [me. Heb. my soul, or, my life. the death.]
<07097> [utmost.]
Curse <06895> [and curse me.]
Pisgah <06449> [Pisgah. or, the hill.]
built seven <07651 01129> [built seven.]
Lord <03068> [What.]
Rise <06965> [Rise up.]
God <0410> [God.]
spoken <01696> [or hath he.]
bless .... blessed <01288> [he hath.]
reverse <07725> [I cannot.]
looked on <05027> [hath not.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
acclamation <08643> [the shout.]
God <0410> [God.]
strength <08443> [the strength.]
wild bull <07214> [unicorn.]
The {reaim,} most probably denotes the rhinoceros, so called from the horn on its nose. In size he is only exceeded by the elephant; and in strength and power inferior to none. He is at least twelve feet in length, from the snout to the tail; six or seven feet in height; and the circumference of the body is nearly equal to his length. He is particularly distinguished from all other animals by the remarkable and offensive weapon he carries on his nose; which is very hard horn, solid throughout, directed forward. He principally feeds upon large succulent plants, prickly shrubs, and branches; and delights in marshy places.
spell <05173> [no enchantment.]
Jacob ........ Israel .......... Jacob .... Israel <03290 03478> [against. or, in. according.]
God <0410> [What hath.]
lioness <03833> [as a great.]
lie <07901> [he shall.]
<03212> [Come.]
<03474> [peradventure.]
wilderness <03452> [Jeshimon.]
saw <07200> [saw.]
times <06471> [at other times.]
seek ... omens <07125 05173> [to seek for enchantments. Heb. to the meeting of enchantments.]
camped <07931> [abiding.]
Spirit <07307> [the spirit.]
uttered <05375> [he took up.]
oracle ............. eyes ... open <05002 05869 08365> [whose eyes are open hath said. Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened.]
falling ... on <02372> [saw.]
falling ..... ground with <05307> [falling.]
gardens <01593> [as gardens.]
aloes <0174> [as the trees.]
{Ahalim,} "lign-aloe trees." This tree, which grows in the East Indies, is described as being eight or ten feet in height, with a stem the thickness of a man's thigh. At the top grows a large tuft of jagged and thick leaves, thick and indented, broad at the bottom, but growing narrower towards the point, and about four feet in length. The blossoms are red, intermingled with yellow, and double like cloves; from which comes a red and white fruit, of the size of a pea, oblong and triangular, with three apartments filled with seed. The tree has a very beautiful appearance; and a forest of them is said to bear a resemblance to a numerous encampment.
Lord <03068> [which the.]
cedar <0730> [as cedar.]
pour <05140> [pour.]
water ............ abundant water ....... than <04325 07227> [many waters.]
king <04428> [his king.]
Agag <090> [Agag.]
kingdom <04438> [his kingdom.]
God <0410> [God.]
devour <0398> [shall eat.]
break <01633> [break.]
pierce <04272> [pierce.]
crouch <03766> [couched.]
stir <06965> [who shall.]
him Blessed ...... blesses <01288> [Blessed.]
struck <05606> [he smote.]
called <07121> [I called.]
said <0559> [I thought.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
advise <03289> [I will advertise.]
future <0319> [the latter.]
see ....... behold <07200 07789> [I shall see him.]
The Targum of Onkelos translates this passage in the following manner: "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but he is not near. When a king shall arise from the house of Jacob, and the Messiah be anointed from the house of Israel; he shall slay the princes of Moab, and rule over all the children of men." The marginal references will direct the reader to the fulfilment of these remarkable prophecies.
star <03556> [a Star.]
scepter <07626> [a Sceptre.]
crush ... skulls ... Moab <06285 04124 04272> [smite the corners of Moab. or, smite through the princes of]
Moab.
Moab <04124> [Moab.]
sons <01121> [all the children.]
[Seth.]
Jacob <03290> [Of Jacob.]
destroy <06> [shall destroy.]
first .... nations <01471 07225> [the first of the nations. or, the first of the nations that warred against Israel.]
end ....... perish <0319 08> [his latter end.]
end ....... perish <05703 08> [shall be that he perish for ever. or, shall be even to destruction.]
Kenites <07017> [the Kenites.]
Kenite <07014> [the Kenite. Heb. Kain. until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. or, how long shall it be ere Asshur carry thee away captive?]
God <0410> [when God.]
Kittim <03794> [Chittim.]
afflict ..... afflict Eber <06031 05677> [and shall afflict Eber.]
perish <08> [and he also.]
Shittim <07851> [Shittim.]
people <05971> [the people.]
invited <07121> [they called.]
bowed <07812> [bowed.]
When ... joined <06775> [joined.]
anger <0639> [the anger.]
leaders <07218> [all the heads.]
hang ... up <03363> [and hang.]
Dr. Kennicott remarks, that the Samaritan and Hebrew texts must be united to make the sense of this verse complete: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto all the heads of the people; and let them slay the men that were joined to Baal-peor; and hang them up before the Lord, against the sun," etc.
fierce <02740> [that the fierce.]
judges <08199> [judges.]
Midianite <04084> [a Midianitish.]
view ... Moses <05869 04872> [in the sight of Moses.]
weeping <01058> [weeping.]
Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]
javelin <07420> [a javelin.]
thrust through <01856> [thrust.]
plague <04046> [So the plague.]
St. Paul reckons only 23,000: Moses includes in the 24,000 he names, the 1,000 men who were slain in consequence of the judicial examination, (ver. 4,) as well as the 23,000 who died of the plague; while St. Paul only refers to the latter.
turned ... anger <07725 02534> [turned my.]
zeal for my sake .............. zeal <07068> [for my sake. Heb. with my zeal.]
consume <03615> [that I.]
descendants <02233> [his seed.]
permanent <05769> [an everlasting.]
zealous <07065> [zealous.]
atonement <03722> [atonement.]
leader <05387> [a prince.]
clan <01004 01> [chief house. Heb. house of a father. the Simeonites.]
Zur <06698> [Zur.]
Balaam's counsel seems to have been first given to Balak, king of Moab; but probably the Midianitish women, especially of the higher ranks, as Cozbi was, were the principal tempters; and the nation of Midian seems to have come into the execrable measure more generally and heartily than that of Moab: they were therefore first selected to be made examples of, for a warning to the Moabites, who were spared at this time.
trouble ...... treachery <06887 05231> [vex you.]
deceived <05230> [beguiled.]
killed <05221> [which.]
