Numbers 23
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Overview
Numbers 23 is a continuation of the narrative involving Balaam and King Balak, focusing on Balaam's pronouncements over Israel. Despite Balak's desire to curse Israel, Balaam finds himself compelled to bless them instead, under God's influence. Key elements of the chapter include:
Balaam's First Oracle: Balaam instructs Balak to build seven altars and offer sacrifices, after which he seeks a word from the LORD. Despite Balak's hope for a curse, Balaam blesses Israel, emphasizing that he cannot curse those whom God has not cursed.
Balak's Displeasure and Second Attempt: Frustrated, Balak takes Balaam to another location, hoping a different perspective might lead to a curse. They repeat the ritual of sacrifices, but Balaam again blesses Israel, saying he must be faithful to the word of God.
Balaam's Second Oracle: In his second pronouncement, Balaam speaks of Israel's strength and divine protection. He uses vivid imagery to describe their prosperity and the futility of trying to curse them.
Balak's Anger and Third Attempt: Balak expresses anger towards Balaam for blessing Israel twice. He takes Balaam to yet another location for a third attempt. Again, sacrifices are made, setting the stage for Balaam's next pronouncement.
Numbers 23 illustrates the theme of God’s sovereignty and the irrevocability of His blessings. Balaam, despite his reputation as a diviner and his initial willingness to aid Balak, finds himself unable to speak anything other than blessings over Israel. This chapter reinforces the idea that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted by human intentions and that His blessings are firmly upon His chosen people. The narrative also underscores the power of God's word through Balaam’s oracles, which stand in contrast to Balak's desires and plans.
Balaam's First Oracle: Balaam instructs Balak to build seven altars and offer sacrifices, after which he seeks a word from the LORD. Despite Balak's hope for a curse, Balaam blesses Israel, emphasizing that he cannot curse those whom God has not cursed.
Balak's Displeasure and Second Attempt: Frustrated, Balak takes Balaam to another location, hoping a different perspective might lead to a curse. They repeat the ritual of sacrifices, but Balaam again blesses Israel, saying he must be faithful to the word of God.
Balaam's Second Oracle: In his second pronouncement, Balaam speaks of Israel's strength and divine protection. He uses vivid imagery to describe their prosperity and the futility of trying to curse them.
Balak's Anger and Third Attempt: Balak expresses anger towards Balaam for blessing Israel twice. He takes Balaam to yet another location for a third attempt. Again, sacrifices are made, setting the stage for Balaam's next pronouncement.
Numbers 23 illustrates the theme of God’s sovereignty and the irrevocability of His blessings. Balaam, despite his reputation as a diviner and his initial willingness to aid Balak, finds himself unable to speak anything other than blessings over Israel. This chapter reinforces the idea that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted by human intentions and that His blessings are firmly upon His chosen people. The narrative also underscores the power of God's word through Balaam’s oracles, which stand in contrast to Balak's desires and plans.
Numbers 23
1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?
13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.
16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?
18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?
27 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
End of Numbers 23
1 Year Plan: Mar 7 - Num 22, Num 23, Luk 3
2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
4 And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?
13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.
16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?
18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
25 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?
27 And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
End of Numbers 23
1 Year Plan: Mar 7 - Num 22, Num 23, Luk 3
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