But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. But Balaam repliedThe phrase introduces Balaam's response, indicating a moment of decision and reflection. Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is known for his interactions with God, which is significant given the cultural and religious context of the time. His reply suggests a recognition of divine authority over human desires, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible. to the servants of Balak
This phrase highlights the political and social dynamics at play. Balak, the king of Moab, sends his servants to persuade Balaam, indicating the importance of Balaam's prophetic abilities. The servants represent the worldly power and influence that often seeks to sway spiritual truth for personal gain. Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold
Here, Balaam acknowledges the immense wealth and temptation offered by Balak. The mention of "silver and gold" symbolizes material wealth and the allure of earthly riches. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such wealth was a sign of power and success, yet Balaam's statement underscores the futility of material gain when weighed against divine command. I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God
This phrase is central to the verse, emphasizing Balaam's recognition of God's ultimate authority. The Hebrew root for "command" (דָּבָר, dabar) often signifies a word or decree, highlighting the power and finality of God's instructions. Balaam's use of "the LORD my God" indicates a personal acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, despite his outsider status. to do anything small or great
This concluding phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of God's command. Whether the task is minor or significant, Balaam affirms his commitment to adhere strictly to God's will. This reflects a biblical principle that obedience to God encompasses all aspects of life, regardless of perceived importance. Persons / Places / Events 1. BalaamA non-Israelite prophet known for his ability to bless or curse, who is approached by Balak to curse Israel. 2. BalakThe king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks Balaam's help to curse them. 3. MoabThe region ruled by Balak, located east of the Dead Sea, where the Israelites camped during their journey to the Promised Land. 4. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who communicates His will to Balaam, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority. 5. The Servants of BalakMessengers sent by Balak to persuade Balaam to curse the Israelites. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandBalaam's response highlights the importance of adhering strictly to God's commands, regardless of external pressures or temptations. The Temptation of WealthBalaam's mention of silver and gold serves as a reminder of the seductive power of material wealth and the need to prioritize God's will over financial gain. God's SovereigntyThe passage underscores God's ultimate authority and control over all situations, including the intentions of those who oppose His people. Integrity in LeadershipBalaam's initial stance reflects the necessity for leaders to maintain integrity and not be swayed by personal gain or the influence of others. The Danger of CompromiseBalaam's account warns against the dangers of compromising one's faith and values for personal benefit or acceptance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Balaam's response to Balak's servants demonstrate the importance of obedience to God in our own lives? 2. In what ways can the temptation of wealth and material possessions challenge our commitment to God's commands today? 3. How does the account of Balaam illustrate God's sovereignty and protection over His people, and how can this assurance impact our faith? 4. What lessons can we learn from Balaam's initial integrity, and how can we apply these lessons to our roles as leaders or influencers in our communities? 5. How can we guard against the dangers of compromise in our spiritual walk, as illustrated by Balaam's eventual downfall? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 23:4-5This passage recounts how Balaam was hired to curse Israel but was instead used by God to bless them, highlighting God's protective power over His people. 2 Peter 2:15-16Peter references Balaam's error, emphasizing the danger of loving the wages of unrighteousness over obedience to God. Jude 1:11Jude warns against following the way of Balaam, which is characterized by greed and rebellion against God's will. Revelation 2:14Jesus rebukes the church in Pergamum for holding to the teaching of Balaam, who led Israel into sin, illustrating the consequences of compromising with evil. | The Second Visit | D. Young | Numbers 22:15-21 | | A Rotting Conscience | H. W. Beecher. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam | C. Kingsley, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam Rebuked, But not Checked | T. T. Munger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam Stopped by an Angel | J. Parker, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam the Man of Double Mind | C. Ness. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam, an Instance of Moral Perversion | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam; Or, Spiritual Influence, Human and Divine | Homilist | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Ass | W. Jones. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Ass, or Cruelty Rebuked | J. W. Hardman, LL. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's I have Sinned | James Vaughan, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Protest | W. Roberts. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Vision | J. P. Smith, LL. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balak's Second Application to Balaam | W. Jones. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Dallying with Temptation | T. T. Munger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Answers Men as They Wish | Isaac Williams, B. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Permits Balaam to Go, and Yet is Angry | F. D. Maurice, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Withstanding Sinners | J. J. Van Oosterzee, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God's Opposition to Balaam | Henry, Matthew | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Gold an Ignoble Motive for Service | C. Kingsley. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | No Contradiction Between God's Two Answers to Balaam | T. T. Manger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | No Without Any Yes in It | S. S. Chronicle | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obedience Without Love, as Instanced in the Character Of | J. H. Newman, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obstacles to Vision | J. Halsey. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obstructive Providences | T. G. Horton. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | On Tampering with Conscience | A. Jessopp, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Parallels to the Case of Balaam | American S. S. Times | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Perversion as Shown in the Character of Balaam | F. W. Robertson, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Restraints from Sin | D. G. Watt, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Sin Perverse | Bp. Babington. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Something Wrong with Conscience | Christian Age | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Cause of God's Anger with Balaam | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Character of Balaam | G. Wagner. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Divine Permission of Self-Will | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Opposition of God's Angel | W. Roberts. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Talking Ass, and What it Taught Balaam | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Way of the Perverse | T. De Witt Talmage. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Trifling with Conscience | J. E. C. Welldon, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Withstanding Temptation | Juvenile Templar. | Numbers 22:15-35 |
People Amorites, Balaam, Balak, Beor, Israelites, Moabites, Moses, ZipporPlaces Amaw, Arnon, Bamoth-baal, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jericho, Jordan River, Kiriath-huzoth, Midian, Moab, PethorTopics Able, Answereth, Anything, Balaam, Balak, Beyond, Can't, Command, Commandment, Contrary, Either, Filled, Full, Fulness, Gold, Less, Orders, Palace, Pass, Possible, Replied, Servants, Silver, ThoughDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 22:18 4333 gold
4363 silver
5437 palaces Numbers 22:18-19 1421 oracles Library Balaam
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.'--NUM. xxii. 6. Give a general outline of the history. See Bishop Butler's great sermon. I. How much knowledge and love of good there may be in a bad man. Balaam was a prophet: (a) He knew something of the divine character, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureConfession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
The Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 22:18 NIVNumbers 22:18 NLTNumbers 22:18 ESVNumbers 22:18 NASBNumbers 22:18 KJV
Numbers 22:18 Commentaries
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