Bible Commentaries
Numbers 23

Verse 2

as = according to what.

offered = offered up. Hebrew. 'alah. See App-43 .

Verse 3

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

meet: in a neutral sense. Hebrew. kar'a.

he went. Hebrew he went solitary. Compare Numbers 24:1 .

Verse 4

God. Hebrew. 'Elohim. See App-4 .

met: in a hostile sense. Hebrew. karah.

Verse 5

put a word. This is inspiration.

said. See note on Numbers 3:40 .

Verse 6

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ).

Verse 7

curse. Hebrew. 'arar. See notes on Numbers 22:6 ; Numbers 22:11 .

Verse 8

How . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

curse = revile. Hebrew. nakab.

GOD = Hebrew. 'El = the mighty God. See App-4 .

cursed. Hebrew. kabab = to pierce with words.

defy . . . defied. Hebrew. za'am = to be enraged with.

Verse 9

not be reckoned. Therefore cannot be in the judgment of Matthew 25:0 , or confused with "the Gentiles, or with the church of God". 1 Corinthians 10:32 .

Verse 10

Who can count. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

the number of = Who can number? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). So with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint. The word "number" is thought by Ginsburg to be an abbreviation of two words = "Who can number? "

me die = my soul die. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 .

righteous = upright. To die the death of the righteous one must have the righteousness of the righteous.

last end = latter end, i e. issue or reward.

Verse 11

curse. Hebrew. kabab. See note on Numbers 22:11 .

Verse 15

burnt offering. Some codices, one early printed edition, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac, read "offerings" ( plural ).

Verse 19

Hath He said. Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 20

He hath blessed. Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint read "I will bless".

Verse 21

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avon, trespass. App-44 .

perverseness. Hebrew. 'amal. App-44 .

Verse 22

strength = heights or heaps of. Hebrew. to'apoth. Only here, Numbers 24:8 , Job 22:25 (plenty), and Psalms 95:4 (= heights).

unicorn. This word is from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is ree m. Supposed to be the rhinoceros, buffalo, or antelope: always rendered "unicorn" in Authorized Version.

Verse 28

Jeshimon. See note on Numbers 21:20 .

Verse 30

offered = offered up. Hebrew. 'alah. App-43 .