Numbers 22

Arist. As Balac said to Balaam (Numbers 22:37), Am not I able to promote you to honor? So if we hallow and sanctify God's Name, is not he able to promote us to honor?

And therefore he says to Abraham, "I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you" (Genesis 12:3), because he is over them and all their blessings and curses. Balak therefore was not a little mistaken when he tells Balaam, "I know that he whom you bless is bless…

1. 'Tis certain, the angels had a great care about the people of God in ancient times. Examples are found everywhere in the word of God; Lot was led out of Sodom by angels, Daniel taught by an angel, Cornelius answered by an angel, an angel withstood Balaam in the way (Numbers 2…

And he came to Abraham, at the close of the Day of Passover, and found him making unleavened cakes." To these add his account of the end of this same antediluvian Og, which he narrates at Numbers 22 thus: "And it came to pass that after the wicked Og... saw the camp of the Israe…

The LXX renders it "they are nothing." Some also think the related term is used in Numbers 22:21. XI. For the same cause of their effect, and with respect also to their outcome, they are called by a term meaning "vanities": Jeremiah 14:22, 8:19, 10:8, "Are there

On that mountain a sacred shrine had been built, which was called Beth-pehor; in Deuteronomy 34:6, Moses is said to be buried "in the valley in the land of the Moabites, over against Beth-pehor" — that is, the mountain on which the sacred shrine was built. The idol itself, there…

Also pride not to hear any excuse or defense delivered in duty, submission and obedience of child or servant. Finally bitterness, which may provoke wrath rather than cause amendment (Colossians 3:21. Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged. Job 31:1…

And therefore God says (Ezekiel 14:4), Every man of the house of Israel, that sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the Prophet, I the Lord will answer him that comes according to the multitude of his idols. Ba…

The whore of Babylon propounds her abominations in a golden cup (Revelation 17:4), and the great motive here is, "All this will I give you." Though the Devil comes not in person to us with his offers, he does by his instruments, as Balak when he sent to Balaam to curse the Israe…

It is our part therefore to wait as David did, who says of himself (Psalm 69:3): I am weary of my crying, my eyes fail me while I wait for my God. For if we give over our patient expecting, and faint in our minds, seeking to anticipate this due time, this period which God has pr…

The word [Satan] signifies an adversary, and so it is often times applied to men; as concerning Solomon, it is said that while he did walk exactly with God, there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence; the word in the original is, there was no Satan in his kingdom; and in (1…

He may be given up to Satan for his exercise and trial; but when he is given up to himself, to the sway of his own heart, to be besotted with his own counsels, and to have his own lusts, what a heavy judgment is this? When Balaam would not be satisfied, God said to him, Go (Numb…

Gabriel and Michael join against the Prince of Persia (Revelation 12:7); Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, and his Angels, and overcame. When Balaam hankered after the wages of unrighteousness, to curse Israel, the Angel of the Lord withstood him (Numbers 22:32).…

18. A man may obey the commands of God, indeed many of the commands of God, and yet be but almost a Christian. Balaam seems very conscientious of steering his course by the compass of God's command; when Balak sent to him to come and curse the people of God, says Balaam, If Bala…

Say therefore, Lord, it [reconstructed: is] not in man or means to do any good to my soul, [illegible] heart here, and be sure your soul be rightly [reconstructed: persuaded] of it. And mark what Balaam said, Lo, I [reconstructed: am] come now, have I now any power at all to say…

But also practically a man's heart may deceive his heart, and may persuade himself that he is godly and religious (James 1:26), and that his ways are right (Proverbs 14:12), and may say within his heart, and so think not only, I am holier than you, and yet not be so much as cere…

For Solomon in that place gives us to understand what power enchanters have, and what they may do by their charms if they come in time, namely, stay the poison of the serpent, so that he cannot hurt, either by biting or stinging. When Balak intended evil against Israel, he hired…

When a spark of Gods wrath flies into their conscience, or they are in fear of death, then they will fall to their confessions. Balaam, when he saw the Angels naked sword, could say, I have sinned, (Numbers 22:34). But true confession drops from the lips, as myrrhe from the tree…

And therefore the Apostle requires of Christian servants more (Ephesians 6:6). Because the Heathen would do thus much, the very donkey, when she saw the Angel in the passage, behaves herself accordingly (Numbers 22:23). If a man would therefore know, whether his heart be fitted…

The Saints live suitably to their high birth, they breathe after God's love, they aspire after glory, they set their feet where worldly men set their heart; they display the Banner of the Gospel, lifting up Christ's Name and interest in the world. 7. The godly are happy persons:…

When Christ cursed the fig tree, it presently withered, Matthew 21.19. Mens curses are insignificant, they shoot without bullets, but Numbers 22.6. He whom you curse, is cursed.

According to his ways. Sometimes the word way is taken more specially for some special course in the carrying of some particular action; as Numbers 22:33, Judges 4:9. More commonly, for the general course, and carrying of our whole lives, as Psalms 119:1, Matthew 10:5.

And Saint Paul says, that the fruits of wicked anger, are clamors, and crying speeches between person and person in their fury (Ephesians 4:31). And from there it is, that we find Balaam in his anger, to have been more void of reason than his ass (Numbers 22:27). Fifthly, when w…