Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Numbers Chapter 22
Overview
Num 22:1, Balak's first message for Balaam is refused; Num 22:15, His second message obtains him; Num 22:22, An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his ass; Num 22:36, Balak entertains him.
the children: Num 21:20, Num 33:48-50, Num 36:13; Deu 34:1, Deu 34:8
on this side: Num 32:19, Num 34:15; Deu 1:5, Deu 3:8; Jos 3:16
Exo 15:15; Deu 2:25; Jos 2:10, Jos 2:11, Jos 2:24, Jos 9:24; Psa 53:5; Isa 23:5
elders: Num 22:7, Num 25:15-18, Num 31:8; Jos 13:21, Jos 13:22
Now shall: Num 24:17; Jer 48:38
And Balak: Num 22:2; Jdg 11:25
sent: Deu 23:4; Jos 13:22, Jos 24:9; Neh 13:1, Neh 13:2; Mic 6:5; Pe2 2:15, Pe2 2:16, son of Bosor, Jde 1:11; Rev 2:14
Pethor: Dr. Kennicott justly remarks, that "the description now given of Balaam's residence, instead of being particular, agrees with any place, in any country where there is a river; for he lived by 'Pethor, which is by the river of the land of his people.' But was Pethor, then, near the Nile in Egypt? Or in Canaan, near Jordan? Or in Mesopotamia, near the Euphrates, and belonging to the Ammonites? This last was in fact the case; and therefore, it is well that twelve Hebrew manuscripts (with two of De Rossi's) confirm the Samaritan text here, in reading instead of âmmo, 'his people,' Ammon, with the Syriac and Vulgate versions." Houbigant justly contends for this reading; and necessity urges the propriety of adopting it, and it thus agrees with Deu 23:4. Ptolemy calls Pethor, Pachura, and Eusebius, Pathura; who places it in upper Mesopotamia. Calmet is of opinion, that it was situated towards Thapsacus, beyond the Euphrates. Num 23:7; Deu 23:4
they cover: Gen 13:16; Exo 1:7-10; Psa 105:24
face: Heb. eye
curse me: Num 23:7, Num 23:8, Num 24:9; Gen 12:3, Gen 27:29; Deu 23:4; Jos 24:9; Sa1 17:43; Neh 13:2; Psa 109:17, Psa 109:18
I wot: Kg1 22:6, Kg1 22:8, Kg1 22:13; Psa 109:28; Pro 26:2; Isa 47:12, Isa 47:13; Eze 13:6; Act 8:9, Act 8:10, Act 16:16
rewards of divination: Sa1 9:7, Sa1 9:8; Isa 56:11; Eze 13:19; Mic 3:11; Rom 16:18; Ti1 6:9, Ti1 6:10; Tit 1:11; Pe2 2:15; Jde 1:11
Num 22:19, Num 22:20, Num 12:6, Num 23:12; Jer 12:2; Eze 33:31
God: Num 22:20; Gen 20:3, Gen 31:24, Gen 41:25; Dan 2:45, Dan 4:31, Dan 4:32; Mat 7:22, Mat 24:24; Joh 11:51
What men: Gen 3:9-11, Gen 4:9, Gen 16:8; Exo 4:2; Kg2 20:14, Kg2 20:15
able to overcome them: Heb. prevail in fighting against them, Num 22:11
Thou shalt: Num 22:20; Job 33:15-17; Mat 27:19
thou shalt not curse: Num 22:19, Num 23:3, Num 23:13-15, Num 23:19, Num 23:23; Mic 6:5
for they: Num 23:20; Gen 12:2, Gen 22:16-18; Deu 23:5, Deu 33:29; Psa 144:15, Psa 146:5; Rom 4:6, Rom 4:7, Rom 11:29; Eph 1:3
for the Lord: Num 22:14; Deu 23:5
Balaam refuseth: Num 22:13, Num 22:37
princes: Num 22:7, Num 22:8; Act 10:7, Act 10:8
Let nothing: etc. Heb. Be not thou letted from, etc. Num 22:16
I will promote: Num 24:11; Deu 16:9; Est 5:11, Est 7:9; Mat 4:8, Mat 4:9, Mat 16:26
and I will do: Num 23:2, Num 23:3, Num 23:29, Num 23:30; Mat 14:7
come: Num 22:6
curse me: An erroneous opinion prevailed, both in those days and in after ages, that some men had the power, by the help of their gods, to devote, not only particular persons, but cities and whole armies, to destruction. This they are said to have done sometimes by words of imprecation; of which there was a set form among some people, which schines calls διοριζομενην αραν , "the determinate curse." Macrobius has a whole chapter on this subject. He gives us two of the ancient forms used in reference to the destruction of Carthage; the first, which was only pronounced by the dictator, or general, was to call over the protecting deities to their side, and the other to devote the city to destruction, which they were supposed to have abandoned. The Romans held, that no city would be taken till its tutelary god had forsaken it; or if it could be taken, it would be unlawful, as it would be sacrilege to lead the gods into captivity. Virgil intimates, that Troy was destroyed because Excessere omnes adytis, arisque relictis dii, quibus imperium hoc steterat, "All the gods, by whose assistance the empire had hitherto been preserved, forsook their altars and temples." See more on this subject in Dr. A. Clarke, Bp. Patrick, and Burder's Oriental Customs, No. 734.
I cannot: Num 23:26, Num 24:13; Kg1 22:14; Ch2 18:13; Dan 5:17; Act 8:20
Num 22:7, Num 22:8; Ti1 6:9, Ti1 6:10; Pe2 2:3, Pe2 2:15; Jde 1:11
God: Num 22:9
If the men: Sa1 8:5-9, Sa1 12:12-19; Psa 81:12; Eze 14:2-5; Th2 2:9-12
but yet: Num 22:35, Num 23:12, Num 23:26, Num 24:13; Psa 33:10, Psa 33:11, Psa 78:30, Psa 78:31; Isa 37:29; Hos 13:11
and the angel: Num 22:35; Gen 48:15, Gen 48:16; Exo 3:2-6; Hos 12:4, Hos 12:5
stood: Num 22:32; Exo 4:24; Lam 2:4
the ass saw: Kg2 6:17; Ch1 21:16; Dan 10:7; Act 22:9; Co1 1:27-29; Pe2 2:16; Jde 1:11
the ass turned: Jer 8:7
crushed Balaam's: Job 5:13-15; Isa 47:12
where was no way: Isa 26:11; Hos 2:6
and Balaam's anger: Pro 14:16, Pro 27:3, Pro 27:4
the Lord opened: And where is the wonder of all this? If the ass had opened her own mouth, and reproved the rash prophet, we might well be astonished; but when God opens the mouth, an ass can speak as well as a man. It is to no purpose to speak of the construction of the ass's mouth, of the formation of the tongue and jaws being unfit for speaking; for an adequate cause is assigned for this wonderful effect, "The Lord opened the mouth of the ass"; and no one who believes in a God, can doubt of his power to do this and much more. Exo 4:11; Luk 1:37; Co1 1:19; Pe2 2:16
What have I: Rom 8:22
for now would: Pro 12:10, Pro 12:16; Ecc 9:3
the ass said: Pe2 2:16
upon which thou hast ridden: Heb. who hast ridden upon me, ever since I was thine. or, ever since thou wast, unto, etc. Co1 1:27, Co1 1:28
opened: Num 24:4 *marg. Num 24:16; Gen 21:19; Kg2 6:17-20; Ch1 21:16; Luk 24:16, Luk 24:31; Act 26:18
bowed down: Exo 34:8; Psa 9:20; Joh 18:6
fell flat on his face: or, bowed himself
Wherefore: Num 22:28; Deu 25:4; Psa 36:6, Psa 145:9, Psa 147:9; Jon 4:11
withstand thee: Heb. be an adversary unto thee, Num 22:22
thy way: Deu 23:4; Pro 28:6; Mic 6:5; Act 13:10; Pe2 2:14, Pe2 2:15
before me: Num 22:20, Num 22:22, Num 22:35; Exo 3:2-6; Pro 14:2, Pro 28:18
surely: Num 14:37, Num 16:33-35; Kg1 13:24-28
I Have sinned: Exo 9:27, Exo 10:16, Exo 10:17; Sa1 15:24, Sa1 15:30, Sa1 24:17, Sa1 26:21; Sa2 12:13; Job 34:31, Job 34:32; Psa 78:34; Mat 27:4, Mat 27:5
if it displease thee: Heb. be evil in thine eyes, Num 22:12, Num 11:1; Ch1 21:7; Pro 24:18 *marg.
I will get: Job 34:31, Job 34:32
Go: Num 22:20; Psa 81:12; Isa 37:26-29; Th2 2:9-12
I shall speak: Num 22:20, Num 22:21
went: Gen 14:17, Gen 18:2, Gen 46:29; Exo 18:7; Sa1 13:10; Act 28:15
the border: Num 21:13, Num 21:14; Deu 2:24, Deu 3:8; Jdg 11:18; Isa 16:2; Jer 48:20
I am not able, Num 22:16, Num 22:17, Num 24:11; Psa 75:6; Mat 4:8, Mat 4:9; Luk 4:6; Joh 5:44
have I: Num 22:18; Psa 33:10, Psa 76:10; Pro 19:21; Isa 44:25, Isa 46:10, Isa 47:12
the word: Num 23:16, Num 23:26, Num 24:13; Kg1 22:14; Ch2 18:13
Kirjathhuzoth: or, a city of streets, Probably Rabbath-Moab, now called Rabba, the capital of the Moabites; and being the royal city, distinguished by its streets. Num 22:39
Num 23:2, Num 23:14, Num 23:30; Gen 31:54; Pro 1:16
high places: Bamoth baal, "the high places of Baal," probably the same as Bamoth mentioned in Num 21:19, Num 21:20; evidently not far from Baal-meon, in the mountains of Abarim. for the Israelites were now encamped in the plains of Moab, which these mountains overlook. Baal, which signifies a lord or governor, was a name common to many idols; and probably here was the same as Chemosh, the god of Moab. Num 25:2, Num 25:3; Deu 12:2; Ch2 11:15; Jer 48:35
utmost: Num 23:13