Numbers 23:2
◄  Numbers 23:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So Balak did as Balaam directed, and they offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So Balak did just as Balaam instructed. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

NET Bible (©2006)
So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each altar a bull and a ram.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Balak did what Balaam told him, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

American King James Version
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

American Standard Version
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they laid together a calf and a ram upon every altar.

Darby Bible Translation
And Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered up a bullock and a ram on each altar.

English Revised Version
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

World English Bible
Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.

Young's Literal Translation
And Balak doth as Balaam hath spoken, and Balak -- Balaam also -- offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffered him to do. He pronounces them happy in their distinction from the rest of the nations. Happy in their numbers, which made them both honourable and formidable. Happy in their last end. Death is the end of all men; even the righteous must die, and it is good for us to think of this with regard to ourselves, as Balaam does here, speaking of his own death. He pronounces the righteous truly blessed, not only while they live, but when they die; which makes their death even more desirable than life itself. But there are many who desire to die the death of the righteous, but do not endeavour to live the life of the righteous; gladly would they have an end like theirs, but not a way like theirs. They would be saints in heaven, but not saints on earth. This saying of Balaam's is only a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only a wish for the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quiet their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of salvation, by which a sinner can be righteous before God.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Balak did as Balaam had spoken,.... Ordered seven altars to be built, and prepared seven bullocks and rams for sacrifice:

and Balak and Balsam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram; both seem to be concerned in offering the sacrifices; Balak, though a king, it being usual for kings to be priests also, as Melchizedek was, and Balaam as a prophet; and these sacrifices were offered to the true God, as seems clear from Numbers 23:4 and to which Balak, at the direction of Balaam, agreed, in order to gain the Lord on his side, that he might prevail over the people of Israel.

Numbers 23:2 Parallel Commentaries

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Balaam's First Oracle
1And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3And Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatever he shows me I will tell you. And he went to an high place. …

Numbers 23:1 Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
Numbers 23:3 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height.
Ezekiel 45:23 Every day during the seven days of the festival he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without defect as a burnt offering to the LORD, and a male goat for a sin offering.