Numbers 22:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And Moab said unto the elders of Midian— Said, i.e. by messengers, whom he sent to them as being his neighbours and allies; and whom, as his first step, he endeavoured to join in a confederacy against the Israelites, as their common enemy. The elders of Midian means their king and princes; see ch. Numbers 31:8. Joshua 13:21. These Midianites are not the same as those descended from Abraham by Keturah, of whom we read, Genesis 25:2 for they were settled on the eastern coast of the Red sea, on the borders of Arabia Felix; whereas these appear to have been in the neighbourhood of the Moabites. Their capital city is placed by St. Jerome on the banks of the Arnon, not far from Ar of the Moabites; and their country is thought to have extended itself along the east side of the Dead sea. They appear to have been in subjection to the Amorites; for the five kings of Midian, who combined with Moab, and perished in their enterprise, are called dukes of Sihon; that is, governors whom he set over them, chap. Numbers 31:8. Joshua 13:21. So that, instead of being offended at the overthrow of the Amorites, they ought to have been thankful to Israel for freeing them from Sihon's tyrannical yoke. See Calmet and Ainsworth. The last clause of this verse, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field, is a lively metaphor, signifying the facility wherewith the Israelites would conquer them, without a timely opposition; and likewise what an universal desolation they would make. The original is, the green of the field; not only the grass, but the leaves of the trees, which are food for oxen; see Isaiah 27:10.