Numbers 23 Scofield
Read Numbers 23 · Matthew Henry on Numbers 23
23:7 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.
“and said”
In the prophecies of Balaam God testifies on behalf of His people rather than (as usual) to them. It is the divine testimony to their standing as a redeemed people in view of the serpent "lifted up," and of the water from the smitten rock. Num 21:5–9; Num 20:11. Their state was morally bad, but this was a matter concerning the discipline of God, not His judgment. The interpretation of the prophecies is literal as to Israel, typical as to Christians. Through Christ "lifted up" John 3:14 our standing is eternally secure and perfect, though our state may require the Father's discipline; 1 Cor 11:30–32; 2 Cor 1:4–9; 2 Cor 1:10–13 meantime, against all enemies, God is "for us." Rom 8:31.
23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
“repent”
Scofield "Zech 8:14".
23:22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
“unicorn”
i.e. the aurochs, or wild ox.
Public domain (1917). Text from the BibleSupport.com e-Sword module.
23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
“utmost”
"Utmost part," etc., means the end of the encampment, the "fourth part of Israel" Num 23:10. Balak's thought, as Grant (following Keil) points out, was not at all to permit Balaam to see the whole of the Hebrew host. In bringing Balaam to Pisgah Num 22:13; Num 22:14. Balak corrects what, evidently, he thought a blunder. Num 23:13; Num 23:14. But when the hireling sees the whole camp he must utter a grander word than before, "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob," and that with the nation in full view! What an illustration of the truth of Rom 4:5–8.