---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "children = sons.  plains of Moab: i.e. which had belonged to Moab.  done to the Amorites. Compare Numbers 21:35 .  all that are round about us: Hebrew al"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/numbers/22"
---

**children** = sons.
**plains of Moab:** i.e. which had belonged to Moab.

**done to the Amorites.** Compare [Numbers 21:35](../../../kjv/numbers/21/35) .

**all that are round about us:** Hebrew all our circuits. Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Subject). App-6 .

**Balaam.** So written after the Greek. In Hebrew bis name is *Bil'am.* Compare [Joshua 13:22](../../../kjv/joshua/13/22) with [Joshua 24:9](../../../kjv/joshua/24/9) , [Joshua 24:10](../../../kjv/joshua/24/10) ; 2Pe 2:15 , [2 Peter 2:16](../../../kjv/2-peter/2/16) . He was a spiritist or medium. He is identified by Sayce with Bela, [Genesis 36:31](../../../kjv/genesis/36/31) , [Genesis 36:32](../../../kjv/genesis/36/32) , where Moses incorporates a list of Edomite kings. According to the Tel-el-Amama tablets he was a Hittite chieftain, who established a kingdom for himself: and he died fighting against Israel by the side of his Midianite allies ([Numbers 31:8](../../../kjv/numbers/31/8) . [Joshua 13:22](../../../kjv/joshua/13/22) ).
**his people:** i.e. whom he had banded together and led. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sons of Ammon".

**curse.** Hebrew. *'arar.* To wish or speak evil against, as to *effect* rather than as to the act.
**wot** = know.

**rewards of divination.** Hebrew "divinations". Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Effect), App-6 , put for the money which procures it. Compare [2 Peter 2:15](../../../kjv/2-peter/2/15) .

**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .

**God . . . said.** Note the change to *'Elohim.* said. Only four times: in verses: [Numbers 9:12](../../../kjv/numbers/9/12) , [Numbers 9:20](../../../kjv/numbers/9/20) in connection with Balaam. See App-4 , and notes on [Numbers 1:1](../../../kjv/numbers/1/1) ; [Numbers 3:40](../../../kjv/numbers/3/40) .

**there is a People.** Hebrew = the People.
**now.** Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Septuagint, read "now therefore".
**curse.** Hebrew. *kabab,* to pierce with words. Note that this word is found only in Balak's and Balaam's mouths. Here, first occurrence, and later in seven other places. See note on [Numbers 23:8](../../../kjv/numbers/23/8) .
**peradventure** = perhaps.

**not go.** This is absolute. Compare [Numbers 22:20](../../../kjv/numbers/22/20) , where the permission is conditional. See Structure above.
**thou shalt not curse.** A special various reading called *Sevir* (see App-34 ), with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "neither shalt thou".

**Balaam . . . said.** Note what he suppressed,

**they . . . said.** Note what they suppressed.

**promote thee unto very great honour.** Figure of speech *Polyptoton* ( App-6 ), for the emphasis rightly shown in the translation. Hebrew an honouring I will honour thee. See note on [Genesis 26:28](../../../kjv/genesis/26/28) .

**If the men come to call thee.** This was the condition with which Balaam did not comply. See [Numbers 22:21](../../../kjv/numbers/22/21) .

**went.** Without waiting for the condition given by the LORD in [Numbers 22:20](../../../kjv/numbers/22/20) . Hence God's anger. See [Numbers 22:22](../../../kjv/numbers/22/22) .

**God's anger.** Note *'Elohim,* not Jehovah.
**went** = was really going. Emphasized to show that even this condition was not meant as a condition, but was to be taken rather as irony. It shows also Balaam's determination to go, whether or no.
**stood** = stationed himself.

**His sword drawn.** As in [1 Chronicles 21:16](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/21/16) . Balaam was going to have Israel killed with the sword.

**path** = a narrow or hollow way. Hebrew. *mish'ol.* Occurs only here.
**wall.** Especially the wall of a vineyard. Compare [Isaiah 6:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/8) .

**narrow.** Hebrew. *zarar.* Occurs only here, [Proverbs 23:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/23/27) , and [Isaiah 28:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/20) .

**opened the mouth, &c.** Hebrew. *patah.* Compare [Numbers 22:31](../../../kjv/numbers/22/31) . This was Jehovah's work (as in [Numbers 22:31](../../../kjv/numbers/22/31) ). But how could Satan open the mouth of the serpent, which has no organs of speech? See [Genesis 3:1](../../../kjv/genesis/3/1) , &c, and App-19 .

**opened** = uncover. Hebrew. *galah.* Compare [Numbers 22:28](../../../kjv/numbers/22/28) .

**said.** See note on [Numbers 3:40](../../../kjv/numbers/3/40) .
**Wherefore . . . ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis.* App-6 .
**behold.** Figure of speech *Asterismos.* App-6 .
**to withstand** = to be an adversary, as in [Numbers 22:22](../../../kjv/numbers/22/22) .
**perverse.** Hebrew. *'avil.* Occurs only here and [Job 16:11](../../../kjv/job/16/11) (ungodly).

**thee . . . her.** Note the emphasis on these pronouns.

**sinned.** Hebrew. *chata.* App-44 .

**Go.** Jehovah now overrules the evil for Israel's good.
**men** = Hebrew, plural of *'ish* , or *'enosh.* App-14 .
**only the word.** Permission limited.

**coast** = border.

**Did I not earnestly send.** Figure of speech *Polyptoton* ( App-6 ), Hebrew "a sending did I not send". See note on [Genesis 26:28](../../../kjv/genesis/26/28) .
**am I not able . . . ?** Vain boast! Figure of speech *Erotesis.* App-6 .

**Lo.** Figure of speech *Asterismos* ( App-6 ).
**have I. ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis* ( App-6 ).
**God** = *'Elohim.* Not Jehovah. Note this, and see App-4 .

**the utmost part** = the extremity of the camp.

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