Numbers 22:12 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people - That is, Thou shalt not go with them to curse the people. With them he might go, as we find he afterwards did by God's own command, but not to curse the people; this was wholly forbidden. Probably the command, Thou shalt not go, refers here to that time, viz., the first invitation: and in this sense it was most punctually obeyed by Balaam; see Numbers 22:13.