Numbers 23:7

This is the message that Balaam told them: “Balak, the King of Moab, summoned me to come here from Syria; he brought me here from the hills at the eastern side of Syria. He said, ‘Come and curse the descendants of Jacob for me, saying that bad things will happen to these Israeli people!’

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

In Context

6When Balaam returned to Balak, Balak was standing with the leaders from Moab beside the offerings he had burned on the altar.

8But ◄how can I curse people whom God has not cursed?/I certainly cannot curse people whom God has not cursed!► [RHQ] ◄How can I condemn people whom Yahweh has not condemned?/I cannot condemn people whom Yahweh has not condemned!► [RHQ]

Read all of Numbers 23

Cross References

Genesis 28:2Instead, go right away to Paddan-Aram in northwest Mesopotamia, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Ask one of the daughters of your mother’s brother Laban to marry you.

Numbers 22:5He sent messengers to a prophet named Balaam, who was living in his own area, in Pethor town, near the Euphrates River. He sent this message to request that Balaam would come to help him: “A huge group of people has arrived here from Egypt. It looks like they are covering the entire land! And they have begun to live close to us.

Numbers 22:11‘A huge group of people has come from Egypt, and they have spread all over this area. Please come immediately to curse them. Then I may be able to defeat them and expel them from this area.’”

Numbers 23:18Then Balaam told him this message: “Balak, listen carefully; hear what I have to say, you son of Zippor [DOU]!

Numbers 24:15So Balaam said this to Balak: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees what will happen in the future clearly speaks.

Numbers 24:23Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, ◄who can <survive/escape> when God does all these things?/no one will be able to <survive/escape> when God does all these things!► [RHQ]

Matthew Henry on Numbers 23:2-13

Balaam Constrained to Bless Israel; The Blessing Pronounced on Israel. ( b. c. 1452.) 1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 4 And God met Balaam: and he… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 23:7