# Numbers 23 š: Balaam's First Oracles
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Balaam Blesses Israel
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Ā Balaam said to Balak, āBuild me seven altars here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.āĀ
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on eachĀ altar a bull and a ram.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Balaam said to Balak, āStation yourselfĀ by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps theĀ LordĀ will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to meĀ I will tell you.āĀ Then he went to a deserted height.
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā Then God met Balaam, whoĀ said to him, āI have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.āĀ
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā Then theĀ LordĀ put a messageĀ in Balaamās mouth and said, āReturn to Balak, and speak what I tell you.ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā So he returned to him, and he was stillĀ standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Then BalaamĀ utteredĀ his oracle, saying,
āBalak, the king of Moab, brought meĀ from Aram,
out of the mountains of the east, saying,
āCome, pronounce a curse on Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā HowĀ can I curseĀ one whom God has not cursed,
or how can I denounce one whom theĀ LordĀ has not denounced?
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā For from the top of the rocks I see them;
from the hills I watch them.
Indeed, a nation that lives alone,
and it will not be reckonedĀ among the nations.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā WhoĀ can countĀ the dustĀ of Jacob,
or numberĀ the fourth part of Israel?
Let meĀ die the death of the upright,
and let the end of my lifeĀ be like theirs.ā
### Balaam Relocates
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Then Balak said to Balaam, āWhat have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contraryĀ you have only blessed them!āĀ
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā Balaam replied,Ā āMust I not be carefulĀ to speak what theĀ LordĀ has put in my mouth?āĀ
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Balak said to him, āPlease come with me to another place from which you can observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. Curse them for me from there.ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā So Balak brought BalaamĀ to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah,Ā whereĀ he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā And BalaamĀ said to Balak, āStation yourself hereĀ by your burnt offering, while I meet theĀ LordĀ there.āĀ
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Then theĀ LordĀ met Balaam and put a messageĀ in his mouth and said, āReturn to Balak, and speak what I tell you.āĀ
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā When BalaamĀ came to him, he was still standing by his burnt offering, along with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, āWhat has theĀ LordĀ spoken?ā
### Balaam Prophesies Again
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā BalaamĀ utteredĀ his oracle, and said,
āRise up,Ā Balak, and hear;
Listen to me, son of Zippor:
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a human being,Ā that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā Indeed, I have received a commandĀ to bless;
he has blessed,Ā and I cannot reverse it.
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā HeĀ has not looked on iniquity in Jacob,
nor has he seen troubleĀ in Israel.
TheĀ LordĀ their God is with them;
his acclamationĀ as king is among them.
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā God brought themĀ out of Egypt.
They have, as it were, the strength of a wild bull.
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā For there is no spellĀ againstĀ Jacob,
nor is there any divination against Israel.
At this timeĀ it must be saidĀ of Jacob
and of Israel, āLook atĀ what God has done!ā
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā Indeed, the people will rise up like a lioness,
and like a lion raises himself up;
they will not lie down until they eat theirĀ prey,
and drink the blood of the slain.ā
### Balaam Relocates Yet Again
[[#Verse 25.]]Ā Balak said to Balaam, āNeither curse them at allĀ nor bless them at all!āĀ
[[#Verse 26.]]Ā But Balaam repliedĀ to Balak, āDid I not tell you, āAll that theĀ LordĀ speaks,Ā I must doā?ā
[[#Verse 27.]]Ā Balak said to Balaam, āCome, please; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please GodĀ to let you curse them for me from there.āĀ
[[#Verse 28.]]Ā So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward the wastelands.Ā
[[#Verse 29.]]Ā Then Balaam said to Balak, āBuild seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams.āĀ
[[#Verse 30.]]Ā So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
- [[Immutability]]
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Balaam had seven altars built, with a bull and a ram offered on each (23:1-2).
2. The first oracle was given from Bamoth Baal, where Balaam could see part of Israel (22:41).
3. Balaam said Israel is a people who live apart (23:9).
4. Balaam wished to die the death of the upright (23:10), but he later died in battle against Israel (31:8).
5. The second oracle was given from the field of Zophim on top of Pisgah (23:14).
6. Numbers 23:19 is a key verse for the doctrine of God's immutability, that He does not change.
7. The first telegraph message, sent by Samuel Morse in 1844, was "What hath God wrought," from Numbers 23:23 (KJV).
8. Balaam compared Israel to a lioness and lion rising up (23:24).
9. The third location was the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland (23:28).
10. After the second oracle, Balak told Balaam to neither curse nor bless Israel (23:25).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the unchanging God who cannot lie. God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind (23:19), and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Balaam asked, "How can I curse whom God has not cursed?" (23:8). What comfort is there in knowing no one can undo God's blessing?
2. God does not lie or change His mind (23:19). How does God's unchanging nature help you trust Him?
3. Balak kept changing locations, hoping for a different answer (23:13, 27). How do people try to manipulate God today?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 8: How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
- š verse 19: God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind.
- š verse 23: There is no omen against Jacob; people will say, "What has God done!"
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[1 Samuel 15#Verse 29.|1 Samuel 15:29]] - The Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind.
- š [[Malachi 03#Verse 06.|Malachi 3:6]] - I the Lord do not change.
- š [[Hebrews 06#Verse 17.|Hebrews 6:17-18]] - It is impossible for God to lie.
- š [[Hebrews 13#Verse 08.|Hebrews 13:8]] - Jesus Christ is the same forever.
- š [[James 01#Verse 17.|James 1:17]] - No variation or shifting shadow.
## š Devotional Reflection
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š Internal Notes