O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
O my people, remember now what Balak ... consulted - how Balak plotted to destroy thee by getting Balaam to curse thee (Nun. 22:5).
What Balaam the son of Beor answered - how the avaricious prophet was constrained against his own will, to bless Israel, whom he had desired to curse for the sake of Balak's reward (Numbers 24:9-11). (Maurer.) Grotius explains it, 'how Balaam answered, that the only way to injure thee was by tempting thee to idolatry and whoredom with the daughters of Moab' (Numbers 31:16). The mention of "Shittim" agrees with this as it was the scene of Israel's sin, in "joining himself unto Baal-peor," after having "committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab" (Numbers 25:1-5; 2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14).
From Shittim unto Gilgal - not that Balaam accompanied Israel from Shittim to Gilgal: for he was slain in Israel's slaughter of Midian (Numbers 31:8). But the clause, "from Shittim," alone applies to Balaam. "Remember" God's kindnesses "from Shittim," the scene of Balaam's wicked counsel taking effect in Israel's sin, whereby Israel merited utter destruction, but for God's sparing mercy - "all along to Gilgal," the place of Israel's first encampment in the promised land, between Jericho and Jordan, where God renewed the covenant with Israel-by the circumcision of those who, having been born in the wilderness, were not yet circumcised, and "said unto Joshua, this day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal (that is, rolling) unto this day" (Joshua 5:2-11).
That ye may know the righteousness - recognize that, so far from God having treated thee harshly (Micah 6:3), His dealings have been kindness itself (so, in Deborah's song, she says, "the righteous acts of the Lord toward the inhabitants of His villages in Israel," for gracious, Judges 5:11; Psalms 24:5; Psalms 112:9).