Dake - The Ultimate Study Bible

Commentary Notes

Balaam is most famous for his supernatural dialogue with a donkey, but he also blessed Israel when he was being bribed to curse them:

Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. (Numbers 23:20-24)

Dake comments on this text on page 187 of The Dake Annotated Reference Bible:

Seven Statements About Israel (Num. 23:21)

  1. Freedom from iniquity and perverseness. In their recent past this wasn't true; but presently the whole nation was cleansed by atonement, and no longer sinful and perverse. The Heb. word for "iniquity" is aven, a word used with idolatry in particular, proving that idols are all vanity and nothing; and the Heb. word for "perverseness" is amal, meaning trouble, labor, and toil of the oppressive and afflictive kind. The Septuagint says, "There shall not be trouble in Jacob, neither shall sorrow be seen in Israel." Rotherham has, "He hath not discovered trouble in Jacob, neither hath he seen wretchedness in Israel." Moffatt reads, "I see no scathe for Jacob, I mark no misery for Israel."
  2. The Lord is with him. God proved this all through the wilderness journey, and confirmed it recently by the defeat of Sihon and Og, giant kings of the Amorites and Bashanites (21:21-25).
  3. The shout of a king is among them. This refers to a shout of praise for their victories, and for God being with them in battle to give them the victory.
  4. God brought them out of Egypt (v. 22). The record of this is in Ex. 12:19.
  5. He hath the strength of a unicorn (v. 22). Heb. reem, a wild bull. Some think the rhinoceros, a wild buffalo, or wild antelope is referred to (24:8; Dt. 33:17; Job 39:9-10; Ps. 22:21; 29:6; 92:10; Isa. 34:7).
  6. There is no enchantment against Jacob or any divination against Israel (v. 23). God was in their midst protecting them from all enchantment and witchcraft.
  7. A great future (vv. 23-24). It will be told how Israel conquered their enemies by God's help. They shall rise up as a great lion and devour their enemies like a young lion.

     

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