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, such as was that of those mongrels 2Ki 17:28-29 and their natural nephews, the Samaritans, Joh 4:5 Ambidexters in their religion, which being grosser at first, was afterward refined by Manasseh a Jewish priest - such another as Balaam - that in Alexander's time made a defection to them, and brought many Jews with him. Of Constantinus Copronymus it is said, how truly I know not, that he was neither Jew, heathen, nor Christian, sed colluviem quandam impietatis, but a hodge podge of wickedness. And of Redwald, king of the East Saxons, the first that was baptized, Camden reports, that he had in the same Church one altar for Christian religion and another for sacrificing to devils. And a loaf of the same leaven was that resolute Rufus, that painted God on the one side of his shield, and the devil on the other, with this desperate inscription, In utrumque paratus, Ready for either, catch as catch may.