Numbers 23:2-3

23:2 So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each ¹  altar a bull and a ram. 23:3 Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself ²  by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me ³  I will tell you.” ⁴  Then he went to a deserted height. ⁵ 

Numbers 23:29-30

23:29 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams.” 23:30 So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

[23:2]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text has “on the altar,” but since there were seven of each animal and seven altars, the implication is that this means on each altar.

[23:3]  ² tn The verb הִתְיַצֵּב (hityatsev) means “to take a stand, station oneself.” It is more intentional than simply standing by something. He was to position himself by the sacrifice as Balaam withdrew to seek the oracle.

[23:3]  ³ tn Heb “and the word of what he shows me.” The noun is in construct, and so the clause that follows functions as a noun clause in the genitive. The point is that the word will consist of divine revelation.

[23:3]  ⁴ tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive. This clause is dependent on the clause that precedes it.

[23:3]  ⁵ sn He went up to a bald spot, to a barren height. The statement underscores the general belief that such tops were the closest things to the gods. On such heights people built their shrines and temples.