Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Numbers 22

Num 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Balak the son of Zippor

Jos 24:9; Jdg 11:25; Mic 6:5; Rev 2:14.

Num 22:5 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:

Balaam

Balaam is the typical hireling prophet, seeking only to make a market of his gift.

• This is "the way of Balaam" (2 Peter 2:15), and characterizes false teachers.
• The "error of Balaam" (Jude 1:11) was that he could see only the natural morality—a holy God, he reasoned, must curse such a people as Israel. Like all false teachers he was ignorant of the higher morality of vicarious atonement, by which God could be just and yet the justifier of believing sinners (Romans 3:26).
• The "doctrine of Balaam" (Revelation 2:14) refers to his teaching Balak to corrupt the people whom he could not curse (Numbers 31:16; with Num 25:1-3 and James 4:4).

Spiritually, Balaamism in teaching never rises above natural reasonings; in practice, it is easy world-conformity. See Scofield Revelation 2:14, note.

Num 31:8, 16; Jos 13:22; Neh 13:2; 2Pe 2:15; Jde 1:11; Rev 2:14.

Num 22:12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

Thou shalt not go with them

Cf. Numbers 22:20. Scofield Genesis 46:3, note.

Num 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them

See Num 22:12, ref. [above]

Num 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

God's anger was kindled because he went

(Cf. Scofield Genesis 46:3, note. In Numbers 22:12 the directive will of Jehovah is made known to Balaam, in Numbers 22:20 Jehovah's permissive will. The prophet is now free to go, but knows the true mind of the Lord about it. The matter is wholly one between Jehovah and His servant. The permission of Numbers 22:20 really constitutes a testing of Balaam. He chose the path of self-will and self-advantage, and Jehovah could not but gravely disapprove. The whole scene, Numbers 22:22-35, prepared Balaam for what was to follow.

the angel of the LORD [See also Num 22:23-27, 31-32, 34-35.]

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.

Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

opened the eyes

See Gen 21:19; 2Ki 6:17; Luk 24:16, 31.

Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

thy way is perverse

See 2Pe 2:14, 15.

Num 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

displease thee

i.e. be evil in thine eyes.

Num 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

but only the word that I shall speak unto thee

See Num 22:20.

Num 22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.

which is in the border of Arnon

Num 21:13.

Num 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

the word that God putteth in my mouth

Inspiration. Num 23:5, 12-16. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

that shall I speak

Num 23:26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13.

Num 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

Kirjathhuzoth

Or, a city of streets.

Num 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

utmost part

"Utmost part," etc., means the end of the encampment, the "fourth part of Israel" (Numbers 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 (Numbers 22:13, 14). Balak corrects what, evidently, he thought a blunder (Numbers 23:13, 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 Romans 4:5-8!