Numbers 23:1 Commentary, explanation, study verse by verse

“ And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. ”

Numbers 23:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Balaam, after the general custom of the pagan, prefaced his divinations by sacrifice. In the number of the altars regard was probably had to the number of the then known planets. Yet Balaam evident...
Numbers 23:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Numbers 22:41 to Numbers 23:6 . Balak's Sacrifices preliminary to Balaam's first Oracle. This section proceeds from E. Balak brought Balaam to Bamoth-baal ( Numbers 22:41 mg. ), the site of a...
Numbers 23:1 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

1. Build me here seven altars. We more positively conclude from hence that this degenerate prophet had been by no means wont to prophesy in accordance with pure revelations from God, but tha...
Numbers 23:1 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. Build me here seven altars, etc. - The oxen and the rams were such as the Mosaic law had ordered...
Numbers 23:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Build me here seven altars, &c.— That is, say some, in honour of that God who had consecrated the number seven by ceasing from his works of creation on the seventh day. That Balaam sacrificed...
Numbers 23:1 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. Build me here seven altars. Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars...
Numbers 23:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

On the meaning of these sacrifices see on Numbers 22:40 . Balak may have intended these sacrifices for Baal, but Balaam at all events thinks of the God who spoke to him at Pethor and whose angel met...
Numbers 23:1 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

XXIII. (1) Build me here seven altars. — The patriarchs of old, as their pious descendants after the giving of the Law, never erected more than one altar in one place. A plurality of altars was...
Numbers 23:1 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

a Blessing instead of a Curse Numbers 22:41 ; Numbers 23:1-12 Notice the position of these Chapter s, preceding the awful story of Baal-peor. Presently the Israelites will be perpetrating such...
Numbers 23:1 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

The first of Balaam's prophecies was uttered in the midst of strange surroundings. Sacrifices were offered to heathen gods, while Balaam turned aside to inquire of Jehovah. The result was that we ha...
Numbers 23:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

CONTENTS The subject through this chapter is a continuation of the former. The idolatrous prince, and the impious prophet, are both busily engaged, in seeking how to curse the LORD'S Israel, whom GO...
Numbers 23:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Balaam said unto Balak ,.... When upon one of the high places of Baal, and after having taken a view of the people of Israel as they lay encamped: build me here seven altars ; this was purely...
Numbers 23:1 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. Ver. 1. Build me here seven altars. ] Here, in Baal's high places. Num 22:41 A sinful mixture...
Numbers 23:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Build me seven altars To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he does, Numbers 23:4 . And though Balak was averse from...
Numbers 23:1 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

BALAAM'S FIRST PROPHECY (vs.1-12) THE SANCTIFICATION OF ISRAEL Chapter 22:41 tells us that Balak brought Balaam to the high places of Baal in order to prophecy against Israel. Here he observe...
Numbers 23:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Balaam Constrained to Bless Israel; The Blessing Pronounced on Israel. B. C. 1452. 1 And...
Numbers 23:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

NUMBERS CHAPTER 23 Balak and Balsam sacrifice: God meets him, and he blesses Israel, Numbers 23:1-10 . Balak is troubled: they go to another place to curse them: they sacrifice again: Balaam con...
Numbers 23:1 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Numbers 23:1 . Build me here seven altars . “As seven was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice,...
Numbers 23:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 23:1 . Seven altars. The Lord commanded Job's friends to take seven bullocks and seven rams, offered no doubt on seven altars: Job 42:8 . This was the highest sacrifice a nation could pre...
Numbers 23:1 - The Biblical Illustrator

Balak and Balaam offered on every altar. The sacrifice of Balak and Balaam I. Objectively this sacrifice was as perfect as the offerers could make it. Clearly they aimed at presenting a perfect...
Numbers 23:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

Numbers 23:1 Build me here seven altars. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to s...
Numbers 23:1 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams, namely, one animal of either group for each altar. Balaam here presumed upon a show of authority...
Numbers 23:1 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Chronicles 15:26 ; 1 Samuel 15:22 ; 2 Chronicles 29:21 ; 2 Kings 18:22 ; Exodus 20:24 ; Exodus 27:1-8 ; Ezekiel 33:31 ; Ezekiel 45:23 ; Isaiah 1:11-15 ; Job 42:8 ; Jude 1:11 ; Matthew 2...
Numbers 23:1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Build seven altars — To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God, as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he doth, Numbers 23:4 . And though Balak was averse from...

Numbers 23:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Numbers 23:1 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 23:1 - L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Numbers 23:1 - Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 23:1 - The Biblical Illustrator

Numbers 23:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary

Numbers 23:1 - The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann

Numbers 23:1 - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 23:1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes