Numbers 21:1 ¶ And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
Numbers 21:2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
Numbers 21:3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
It seems that Arad, a king in the southern part of Canaan, received a report from his spies that the Israelites were headed his way. He went out and fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. This time the Israelites responded by seeking the LORD’s help. They promised to utterly destroy the cities ruled by this king if He would give them the victory. The LORD heard their vow and gave them the victory. The people honored their vow and utterly destroyed the Canaanites and their cities. They called the place Hormah, one meaning of which is to “destroy…utterly (slay)”; however, it also includes “to devote to religious uses…consecrate.”
“utterly destroy” – Guzik offers some further insight: “It is strange idea to our way of thinking, but Israel at this time would show that property was completely given to God by destroying it - thus making it unusable to anyone else. It was an expensive and whole-hearted way to give things to the Lord. This was Israel’s way of saying, ‘we’re not fighting this battle for our own profit, but for the glory of God.’”
Some of the other translations are worded more in line with the NIV: “When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them.”
JFB offers the following explanation: “The Septuagint and others consider the Hebrew word ‘spies’ a proper name, and render it: ‘Came by the way of Atharim towards Arad.’”
Numbers 21:4 ¶ And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
In the next several verses we are basically given the route the people followed after leaving mount Hor. They journeyed by way of the Red sea around the land of Edom. As previously noted, the people were discouraged since the Edomites would not let them go through their land, forcing them to take a much longer route. Once again they complained and accused God and Moses of taking them out of Egypt only to let them die in the desert—a place with no bread or water. They complained that they were tired of eating “this light bread,” in reference to the manna.
After so many proofs of His provision for them, the LORD had no patience with them this time. He immediately sent poisonous fiery serpents among the people, and many of them died.
Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
To the people’s credit, they realized that they had incurred God’s judgment. They knew that they had sinned by falsely accusing the LORD and Moses. They asked Moses to pray to the LORD to take away the serpents—and Moses did so.
Thought: How often are we more ready to complain to the LORD about our circumstances rather than turning to Him in prayer seeking His will and provision?
Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
The LORD told Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it upon a pole so that it could be easily seen. Those who were bitten by a serpent and looked at the pole for healing would live. So Moses made a serpent of brass and put it on the pole, and those who looked at the serpent after being bitten did not die.
This is a very interesting section for many reasons. To associate looking at a serpent for healing is in stark contrast to the primary association we have of the serpent with Satan as the one that deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. In my studies I have learned that brass is associated with sin and judgment in the scripture. By placing the serpent on a pole and lifting it up as a focus of one’s faith in the LORD for deliverance we begin to get a clearer application. Christ was lifted up on the cross to become our sin, and only by looking to Him in faith for deliverance can one be saved. We know this application is true because of the words of John.
John 3:14–15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Wesley added some further insight: “The serpent signified Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, though without sin, as this brazen serpent had the outward shape, but not the inward poison, of the other serpents….” I will add that though Christ was without sin, He was made our sin (in the sight of God) and suffered the judgment of our sin.
Isaiah 53:10–11 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
2 Corinthians 5:20–21 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
An interesting side note: This bronze snake was still around until King Hezekiah finally destroyed it several hundred years later because it had become an idol.
2 Kings 18:4 “He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.”
Numbers 21:10 ¶ And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.
Numbers 21:11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.
Numbers 21:12 From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.
Numbers 21:13 From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Numbers 21:14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,
Numbers 21:15 And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.
Eventually, the Israelites moved on and Moses identifies the following campsites: Oboth, Ijeabarim (near Moab), the valley of Zared, and Arnon (the border between Moab and the Amorites).
In verse 14 there is a reference to “the book of the wars of the LORD,” reminding us that there were other records of the history of Israel that were not included in scripture because they were not inspired by God. This book included the miracle that God performed at the Red Sea when He parted the waters. Moses couples that with what the LORD did in the brooks of Arnon that led to the dwelling of Ar, a Moabite city. I assume this is referencing the victory of the Israelites over Sihon as detailed below.
Numbers 21:16 And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
Numbers 21:17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:
Numbers 21:18 The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
Numbers 21:19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:
Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
Continuing on their journey, the people then camped at Beer, noted as a place where the LORD once again provided water to supply the needs of the people. It actually seems that the people were of a good spirit at this time since it is noted that they sang a song as the leaders of the people dug the well according to the LORD’s direction through Moses.
From Beer they continued on to Mattanah, to Nahaliel, to Bamoth (in the valley in the country of Moab), to the top of Pisgah (that overlooked Jeshimon). It was from Mount Pisgah that Moses would be given a special view of the land of promise.
Deuteronomy 34:1 “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan….”
Numbers 21:21 ¶ And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Numbers 21:22 Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders.
Numbers 21:23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
Numbers 21:24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
Once again the people sought permission of a foreign king to pass through his lands—Sihon, king of the Amorites. Once again they promised not to take anything from their fields or vineyards or drink from any of their wells. They assured the king that they would stay on the king’s highway until they were all the way through his land.
Once again the Israelites were denied this privilege. In fact, Sihon gathered his people and went out to war against Israel at Jahaz. The LORD gave Israel the victory, and they took possession of the land from Arnon unto Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites.
Point is made that the Ammonites maintained a strong border.
Personal note: If only America defended her borders as vigorously as did these nations.
Numbers 21:25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
Numbers 21:26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.
Numbers 21:27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
Numbers 21:28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
Numbers 21:29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
Numbers 21:30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.
Numbers 21:31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.
Moses records that the Israelites took possession of the cities and villages of the Amorites, including Heshbon, the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites. It is also noted that Sihon had taken the land from the king of Moab all the way to the border of Arnon. Sihon’s victory over Moab even inspired a song exalting the strength of the Amorites and demeaning Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, and ending with a note of triumph for the victory of Israel.
The NIV describes the land area that was conquered as “extending from the Arnon River at the midpoint of the Dead Sea to the Jabbok River, which flows into the Jordan River some twenty-four miles north of the Dead Sea.”
With this victory over the Amorites, I am reminded of God’s words to Abraham that pointed to this time.
Genesis 15:13–16 “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
Numbers 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Numbers 21:33 And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
Numbers 21:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
Numbers 21:35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
Moses next proceeded to send spies to Jaazer before taking possession of the Amorite villages there. They then turned toward the kingdom of Bashan and were met by its king, Og, and his troops at Edrei. The LORD told Moses that they were not to fear these people because He was going to give them the victory. In fact, their victory would be as complete as what they had experienced over Sihon and the Amorites at Heshbon.
The chapter closes with a record of the victory, emphasizing that they killed Og, his sons and all his people. They left no one alive. They then took possession of these lands as well.
JFB notes that the land conquered in this battle included, “a hilly region east of the Jordan lying between the mountains of Hermon on the north and those of Gilead on the south.”
A verse in Deuteronomy provides insight as to why the LORD gave a special word to Moses not to be afraid; Og was a giant.
Deuteronomy 3:11 “For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.”
There is also application to us today. Og was an enemy giant that provoked fear. Today we face other types of giants that cause us to fear—horrible diseases like cancer and ebola, terrorism, financial insecurity, etc. The Christian has no more need to fear such “giants” than did the Israelites. God will give us the victory if we keep our hearts fixed on Him. He will either bring us through in victory this side of heaven or in His presence in heaven.
Numbers 22:1 ¶ And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Numbers 22:4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
This chapter records one of the most intriguing events contained in the book of Numbers—Balaam has a conversation with his donkey and is confronted by the angel of the LORD. The question arises, “How did Moses know about these events?” Those types of questions always irritate me. The powers that be always seem to want to demand personal experience of the writer to affirm his contribution to scripture. I believe that they are belittling the LORD’s inspiration when they do so. Just as prophets received revelations of things to come, and the Holy Spirit gifts one with a word of knowledge, so too could He inspire the revelation of these events through the pen of Moses without human aid.
The Israelites are encamped “in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho” (east of the Jordan river). Balak, son of Zippor, king of the Moabites, knew all about how the Iraelites had destroyed the Amorites. That victory had provoked fear in the Moabites besides the fact that the Israelites numbered so many. Balak compared Israel to an ox eating up the grass in a field in reference to its size and strength.
Balak decided to confer with the neighboring Midianites as to mounting a joint defense against the people of Israel. They reasoned that if they didn’t do something, they would be destroyed just as surely as had the Amorites.
If only Balak had known that they had no reason to fear.
Deuteronomy 2:9 “And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.”
The New Bible Commentary notes that the Israelites are probably in the last five months of the 40th year out of Egypt.
Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Balak decided to send messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, in Pethor asking him to come and curse these people that were threatening his kingdom. He noted that they had come out from Egypt and that “they cover the face of the earth”—in other words, they were great in number. He admits that he can’t defeat them militarily, but that he thinks he can drive them out of the land with Balaam’s help.
Evidently, Balaam has a strong reputation testifying to the fact that those he blesses are blessed, and those he curses are cursed.
Interesting historical note from christiananswer.net: “…an ancient text found at Deir Alla, Jordan, in 1967 tells about the activities of a prophet named Balaam….Three times in the first four lines he is referred to as ‘Balaam son of Beor’….He was known as a cursing prophet and continued to be revered hundreds of years after his death. His personal as revealed in the Deir Alla text precisely matches that of the Balaam of Numbers 22-24.”
Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Numbers 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
So the delegation from Balak, including leaders from Moab and Midian, left to seek Balaam, bringing “the rewards of divination in their hand”—money to pay for his services. Upon finding Balaam, they gave him the message from Balak.
Balaam is going to prove to be a complicated character. He first identifies himself as being under the LORD’s authority. He answers the delegation by telling them that he will answer them the next morning according to the LORD’s instructions to him. It stands out to me that Balaam was confident of getting instruction from the LORD.
I noticed that some commentaries do not credit Balaam with knowing the LORD, but the Hebrew is clear that he used the title “YHWH,” the name by which the LORD was specifically known to the people of Israel.
Numbers 22:9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
Numbers 22:10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Numbers 22:11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
Numbers 22:12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
We know that God already knows what is happening, but he spoke with Balaam in some way and asked him who the men were that were staying with him. Balaam answers by telling God that Balak had sent them to ask him to come and curse a great multitude of people that had come out of Egypt that were threatening his borders. He admitted that the king thought Balaam could get rid of them.
God immediately told Balaam that he could not go with them nor could he curse the people because they are a blessed people—implied, blessed by Me.
Numbers 22:13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
Numbers 22:14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
The next morning Balaam told the king’s delegation to go home because the LORD refused to let him go with them. So they returned home and informed Balak that Balaam would not come.
I liked the way Guzik phrased it: “This carries the sense that Balaam wanted to go, but God wouldn’t let him. We can easily picture Balaam saying it just this way to the messengers from Balak. ‘I would really like to go with you, but God won’t let me.’”
Numbers 22:15 ¶ And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
Numbers 22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
Numbers 22:17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
Balak wouldn’t take “no” for an answer and decided to send an even more impressive delegation to plead with Balaam. Through them he promised Balaam very great honor; in fact, he could name his price if he would just come and curse this people.
Numbers 22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Numbers 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
Numbers 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Balaam stuck to his guns. He said that it didn’t matter if Balak promised to give him his house full of silver and gold; he could not disobey the word of the LORD “my God.” Still, he told them to stay the night and he would talk to the LORD again.
God came again that night to speak to Balaam in some way and told him that he could go with the men if they came to ask again. Even so, he could only speak according to what God gave Balaam to speak.
Numbers 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Moses tells us that Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his ass and went with the princes of Moab. He didn’t wait for them to ask again.
Numbers 22:22 ¶ And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
God was very angry with Balaam for going, and the angel of the LORD stood in the way to stop him. It is noted that he was riding his ass (female donkey) and accompanied by two servants. It seems he wasn’t traveling in the immediate company of the delegation from Balak.
Coffman provides a thought to consider: “The repeated warning indicates that Balaam had decided in his heart that he would comply with Balak's request and ‘curse’ Israel. This triggered the anger of God. ‘Because he went’ therefore has the meaning of ‘went with the intention of disobeying God.’”
A reference to “the angel of the LORD” in the Old Testament is usually a reference to the preincarnate Jesus.
Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Numbers 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
Numbers 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
Numbers 22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Numbers 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
It seems that the LORD allowed the donkey to see His angel blocking their path, standing with sword in hand. Instead of stopping, the donkey turned out of the way into the field. Balaam began hitting the donkey to get back on the path.
Evidently, the path wound through some vineyards that were walled on both sides. Once again the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall as it tried to get past the angel. Again, Balaam beat the donkey. The angel of the LORD took up a position a bit further down the path and stood in a narrow place that prevented a turn in either direction. This time when the donkey saw the angel, she fell down under Balaam, making him really angry; and he beat the animal once again with his staff.
Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
At this point the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she asked Balaam why he had beaten her these three times. Amazing to me, Balaam didn’t seem to be phased by the fact that he was talking to a donkey. He immediately answered that it was because she had “made a fool of me” (NIV). He went on to add that he would have killed her if he’d had a sword in his hand.
Numbers 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
The donkey proceeds to reason with Balaam. My paraphrase: Have I ever been anything except a good, obedient donkey since the very day you became my master until now? Balaam had to acknowledge that the donkey was right.
Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Numbers 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Finally, the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam so that he could see the angel of the LORD with drawn sword standing in the path. He immediately fell on his face before the angel.
I liked the application Guzik made between the donkey and a true follower of Jesus as one who is “sensitive to God’s direction, a thorn to the disobedient, and a victim of the wrath of the disobedient.”
The angel of the LORD then asked Balaam why he had beaten his donkey. He declared that he had come to block Balaam’s path because he was so rashly determined to disobey Him. He went on to say that the donkey had saved his life because if she hadn’t turned aside, He would have killed Balaam and spared the animal.
The language makes it clear to me that the angel is divine and is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus.
There are some that do not believe that the LORD really spoke to Balaam through the donkey; but Peter, as inspired by the Spirit, declares it to be fact.
2 Peter 2:15–16 “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”
Numbers 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Numbers 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Balaam quickly admitted that he had sinned. He went on to say that he did not realize that the angel was blocking his path and would turn around and go back home if that was what the angel wanted.
Interestingly, the angel of the LORD told Balaam to go ahead and proceed, but he could only speak the word that “I shall speak unto thee”—again, an affirmation that Balaam was talking to the LORD.
So Balaam continued to follow the princes of Balak. One can’t help but wonder if the two servants traveling with Balaam witnessed any of this.
Numbers 22:36 ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
Numbers 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him in a Moabite city on the furthest border of the Arnon. Balak immediately questioned Balaam as to why he did not come the first time he sent for him. Didn’t he realize that Balak could richly reward him?
Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Numbers 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
Numbers 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Balaam told Balak that though he had come, he could not say anything other than what the LORD put in his mouth to say. Balaam continued on with Balak to Kirjathhuzoth, a place not far from the camp of Israel. Balak then presented presents of oxen and sheep to Balaam and the princes that had formed his delegation.
On the next day Balak took Balaam up to one of the high places where Baal was worshipped so he could see the great size of the camp of the Israel.