Numbers 23:1 Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

◄ Numbers 23:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

English Standard Version
And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

King James Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

International Standard Version
Balaam told Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare here for me seven bulls and seven rams."

American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Balaam said to Balac: Build me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams.

Darby Bible Translation
And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto Balak, 'Build for me in this place seven altars, and make ready for me in this place seven bullocks and seven rams.'

Cross References

Numbers 22:41
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that there he might see the utmost part of the people.

Numbers 23:2
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

1 Chronicles 15:26
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

Job 42:8
Therefore take to you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

Ezekiel 45:23
And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 23

Nu 23:1-30. Balak's Sacrifices.

1. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars—Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from Nu 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2Ki 18:22; Isa 17:8; Jer 11:13; Ho 8:11; 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions with the divine worship. The heathen, both in ancient and modern times, attached a mysterious virtue to the number seven; and Balaam, in ordering the preparation of so many altars, designed to mystify and delude the king.