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 consults God, who meets him, and he again blesses Israel, Numbers 23:11-21. They go to a third place, and sacrifice again, Numbers 23:27-30. The altars were either,
1. To Baal, in whose high places this was done and to whom alone Balak used to sacrifice. Or rather,
2. 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 God and his worship, yet he would be easily overruled by Balaam, who doubtless told him that it was in vain to make an address to any other than the God of Israel, who alone was able either to bless or curse them, as he pleased. And therefore when Balaam lost his design this way he tried it another way with greater success, but still used to the same method, in provoking their own God to destroy the Israelites, Num 25. But though he direct his sacrifices to the right object, he chooseth a wrong place, and, to comply with Balak's desire, makes use of the high places of Baal for this end, and mingles his own superstitions with the worship of God, in erecting divers altars, according to the manner of heathens and idolators, 2 Kings 18:22 Isaiah 17:8 Jeremiah 11:13 Hosea 8:11, Hosea 10:1 12:11; whereas God appointed and holy men used but one altar, though many sacrifices were to be offered upon it, Genesis 8:20 Exodus 17:15, Exodus 24:4. Seven was the solemn and usual number in sacrifices, 1 Chronicles 15:26 2 Chronicles 29:21 Job 42:8.