Numbers 24:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Falling into a trance— There is nothing in the original for into a trance; which our translators have added, supposing him to have been in a rapture or ecstacy when he had this vision, because it is added, having his eyes open; that is, his mind being possessed of a clear apprehension of things, which God revealed to him when his senses were locked up: but Le Clerc takes this expression, as well as the former, to have a reference to what beset him by the way; when, having his eyes open to see the angel, he bowed his head, and fell flat on his face. What would lead one to prefer this explanation, is, that it does not appear that Balaam fell into any trance or ecstacy when he delivered the prophecies in this or the foregoing chapter. It is true, he declares himself to have been no more than a passive instrument in the hands of the Lord. See the Sixth Principle on ch. 22: Balak and his courtiers might easily perceive this by his manner of acting and speaking, so like what we read was usual, not only with the true prophets among the Jews, as well as the pretended ones who had apostatised to the worship of Baal, both which had the character of madmen given them; (see 1 Samuel 19:23. 1 Kings 18:28. 2 Kings 9:11; 2 Kings 9:37.) but was also believed to be the case of the heathen pythonesses, and other oracle-mongers. But the most convincing argument, to them, was his acting a part so contrary to his interest and inclination, and the extreme mortification and displeasure we may reasonably suppose him to have shewn at his disappointment; from all which, Balak, his princes, and allies, might be thoroughly satisfied that their designs against Israel were defeated by a divine and irresistible power, and that all their future attempts would meet with no better, if not worse success than the former had done. However, the divine providence took special care to convince, not only them, but future ages, of Balaam's prophetic commission, before he left the Moabitish Court; for he had no sooner, in some measure, appeased the King's anger, (Numbers 24:12, &c.) than he felt himself seized with a fresh prophetic impulse; and, having gained the attention of the whole assembly, began to extend his predictions on sundry kingdoms and people, and to display their various fates by sea and land, in so plain a manner, that however slight an impression they might make on those who then heard them, yet, by their timely accomplishment afterwards, they sufficiently declared that they all flowed from the same divine original; as will abundantly appear in the course of our notes on the present chapter. See Psalmanazar's Essays. It may be proper just to observe, that a learned writer of our own understands the occurrence of the ass and the angel, &c. in this part of the sacred story, as a vision. See Dr. Jortin's Dissertations, p. 186. And to the arguments which he uses in defence of his opinion, it may perhaps be thought by some, that the present verse affords an additional one.