Numbers 23

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 23 of 36

¹ And Balaam said to Balak, Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.

² And Balak did as Balaam had spoken. And Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on the altar.

³ And Balaam said to Balak, Station yourself by your burnt offering, and I will go on; it may be that Jehovah will come to meet me, and I will declare to you the things which He reveals to me. And he went to a high place.

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Chapter Summary

Balaam attempts to curse Israel three times at Balak's request, but each time God puts words of blessing in his mouth instead. Despite Balak's anger and attempts to find different locations, Balaam can only speak what God commands him to say.

Key Hebrew Words

אָרַר curse H779 · TWOT 168

בָּרַךְ bless H1288 · TWOT 285

מָשָׁל parable, oracle H4912 · TWOT 1258a

עֹלָה burnt offering H5930 · TWOT 1624d

קֶסֶם divination H7081 · TWOT 2044a

נָחַם repent, relent H5162 · TWOT 1344

People & Context

Balaam

Seer who builds altars to curse Israel but utters Jehovah's blessing in his oracles

Balak

King of Moab who prepares sacrifices and angrily demands Balaam curse Israel

Timeline

Second Oracle of Balaam

Balak relocates Balaam to the top of Pisgah, hoping for a different result, but Balaam delivers a second oracle affirming God's blessing. He proclaims that God does not lie or change His mind, and states that no spell or divination can succeed against Israel.

Numbers 23:13-26

Third Oracle of Balaam

Taken to the height of Peor, Balaam looks over the Israelite camp and the Spirit of God comes upon him. He delivers a third oracle, poetically praising the beauty of Jacob's tents and decreeing that whoever blesses Israel is blessed, and whoever curses them is cursed.

Numbers 23:27-24:13

Balaam's First Oracle

After Balak builds seven altars and sacrifices seven bulls and rams, God puts a word in Balaam's mouth. Balaam declares he cannot curse whom God has not cursed, observing Israel as a people dwelling alone, and asks to die the death of the righteous.

Numbers 23:1-10

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