14 and he taketh him 'to' the field of Zophim, unto the top of Pisgah, and buildeth seven altars, and offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar. 15 And he saith unto Balak, 'Station thyself here by thy burnt-offering, and I—I meet 'Him' there;' 16 and Jehovah cometh unto Balaam, and setteth a word in his mouth, and saith, 'Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.' 17 And he cometh unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him, and Balak saith to him: 'What hath Jehovah spoken?' 18 And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor! 19 God 'is' not a man—and lieth, And a son of man—and repenteth! Hath He said—and doth He not do 'it'? And spoken—and doth He not confirm it? 20 Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I 'can'not reverse it. 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Nor hath He seen perverseness in Israel; Jehovah his God 'is' with him, And a shout of a king 'is' in him. 22 God is bringing them out from Egypt, As the swiftness of a Reem is to him; 23 For no enchantment 'is' against Jacob, Nor divination against Israel, At the time it is said of Jacob and Israel, What hath God wrought! 24 Lo, the people as a lioness riseth, And as a lion he lifteth himself up, He lieth not down till he eateth prey, And blood of pierced ones doth drink.' 25 And Balak saith unto Balaam, 'Neither pierce it at all, nor bless it at all;' 26 and Balaam answereth and saith unto Balak, 'Have I not spoken unto thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh—it I do?' 27 And Balak saith unto Balaam, 'Come, I pray thee, I take thee unto another place; it may be it is right in the eyes of God—to pierce it for me from thence.' 28 And Balak taketh Balaam to the top of Peor, which is looking on the front of the wilderness, 29 and Balaam saith unto Balak, 'Build for me in this 'place' seven altars, and make ready for me in this 'place' seven bullocks and seven rams;' 30 and Balak doth as Balaam said, and he offereth a bullock and a ram on an altar.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 23:14-37
Commentary on Numbers 23:11-30
(Read Numbers 23:11-30)
Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way. There was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was not such as might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord sees that we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks upon us as accepted in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned. Oh the wonders of providence and grace, the wonders of redeeming love, of pardoning mercy, of the new-creating Spirit! Balak had no hope of ruining Israel, and Balaam showed that he had more reason to fear being ruined by them. Since Balaam cannot say what he would have him, Balak wished him to say nothing. But though there are many devices in man's heart, God's counsels shall stand. Yet they resolve to make another attempt, though they had no promise on which to build their hopes. Let us, who have a promise that the vision at the end shall speak and not lie, continue earnest in prayer, Luke 18:1.