Chapter 22:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 22
Concise Complete
Balak's fear of Israel, He sends for Balaam. (1-14)
Balaam goes to Balak. (15-21) The opposition to Balaam by the way. (22-35)
Balaam and Balak meet. (36-41)
Verses 1-14 The
king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set
God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that
if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a
blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with
them. None had so great a reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him,
though he send a great way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever
spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it
is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived and died
a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shall not come upon
us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam,
they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam,
forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam was no stranger to Israel's cause; so
that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse
a people whom God had blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he
should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being
overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers.
Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as
if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers
also are not faithful in returning Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are
abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing
their own faults and follies.
Verses 15-21 A
second embassy was sent to Balaam. It were well for us, if we were as earnest
and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstanding disappointments. Balak
laid a bait, not only for Balaam's covetousness, but for his pride and ambition.
How earnestly should we beg of God daily to mortify such desires in us! Thus
sinners stick at no pains, spare no cost, and care not how low they stoop, to
gratify their luxury, or their malice. Shall we then be unwilling to do what is
right? God forbid! Balaam's convictions charged him to keep to the command of
God; nor could any man have spoken better. But many call God theirs, who are not
his, not truly because not only his. There is no judging men by their words; God
knows the heart. Balaam's corruptions at the same time inclined him to go
contrary to the command. He seemed to refuse the temptation; but he expressed no
abhorrence of it. He had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God
might give him leave to go. He had already been told what the will of God was.
It is a certain evidence of the ruling of corruption in the heart, to beg leave
to sin. God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. As God sometimes denies the
prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked
in wrath.
Verses 22-35 We
must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men
from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The
holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed in preventing it more than we
are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his
adversary; those are really our best friends, and we ought so to reckon them,
who stop our progress in sinful ways. Balaam has notice of God's displeasure by
the ass. It is common for those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil,
to push on violently, through the difficulties Providence lays in their way. The
Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle wrought by the power
of God. He who made man speak, could, when he pleased, make the ass to speak
with man's voice. The ass complained of Balaam's cruelty. The righteous God does
not allow the meanest or weakest to be abused; but they shall be able to speak
in their own defence, or he will some way or other speak for them. Balaam at
length has his eyes opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and
unhumbled heart. When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful
ways, and how much it was for our advantage to be crossed. Balaam seemed to
relent; I have sinned; but it does not appear that he was sensible of this
wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it. If he finds he cannot go forward,
he will be content, since there is no remedy, to go back. Thus many leave their
sins, only because their sins have left them. The angel declared that he should
not only be unable to curse Israel, but should be forced to bless them: this
would be more for the glory of God, and to his own confusion, than if he had
turned back.
Verses 36-41
Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner.
Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him. He seems to speak with vexation;
but is really as desirous to please Balak, as ever he had pretended to be to
please God. See what need we have to pray every day, Our Father which art in
heaven, lead us not into temptation. Let us be jealous over our own hearts,
seeing how far men may go in the knowledge of God, and yet come short of Divine
grace.
Chapter 22:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
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Esther
Job
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Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
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Daniel
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Amos
Obadiah
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Nahum
Habakkuk
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Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
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John
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Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
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Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
