Numbers 22:14 kjv
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
Numbers 22:14 nkjv
And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
Numbers 22:14 niv
So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
Numbers 22:14 esv
So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
Numbers 22:14 nlt
So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us."
Numbers 22 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:12 | God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them...curse them.” | God forbids Balaam from cursing Israel. |
| Num 22:15-17 | Balak sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished...promised honor. | Balak's persistent attempt to sway Balaam. |
| Num 22:19-20 | Balaam told them, "Stay here tonight...I will learn what else the Lord..." | Balaam's subsequent request for God's word. |
| Num 23:8 | How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? | Balaam's inability to curse despite desire. |
| Deut 23:4-5 | Moabites hired Balaam...but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing. | God's divine reversal of Balak's intention. |
| Josh 24:9-10 | Balak...fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam...but I would not listen to Balaam...turned his blessing into a curse for you. | Joshua reminds Israel of God's protection. |
| Neh 13:2 | They had hired Balaam to curse them—but our God turned the curse into a blessing. | Nehemiah reaffirms God's control. |
| Mic 6:5 | Remember what Balak king of Moab purposed and what Balaam...answered him. | Micah references Balaam's prophecy and God's deliverance. |
| 2 Pet 2:15-16 | Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam. | New Testament warns against Balaam's covetousness. |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error. | Warning against apostates driven by greed. |
| Rev 2:14 | I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam. | Condemnation of doctrine leading to sin. |
| Pro 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. | God's sovereignty over human rulers and plans. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever. | Divine sovereignty over all plans, even evil ones. |
| Gen 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse. | God's protective covenant with Abraham. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’ | God's absolute control over His will and purpose. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose. | The unstoppable nature of God's declared word. |
| Exod 23:25 | You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. | God protects and blesses His obedient people. |
| Num 22:38 | Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” | Balaam later acknowledges his inability to speak on his own. |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them...nor have I commanded them. | False prophets speaking against God's will. |
| Matt 7:15-20 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. | A general caution about identifying true and false messengers. |
Numbers 22 verses
Numbers 22 14 Meaning
Numbers 22:14 reports the immediate aftermath of Balak's first attempt to secure Balaam's services. The verse indicates the delegation sent by King Balak returned to Moab and conveyed Balaam's definitive refusal to accompany them, thus failing to accomplish their mission of bringing the diviner to curse Israel. This refusal stems directly from the command God had given Balaam not to go or curse Israel.
Numbers 22 14 Context
Numbers 22 introduces King Balak of Moab, who, witnessing the Israelite multitude and their victory over the Amorites, felt great dread. Fearing for his kingdom, Balak dispatched a delegation of princes from Moab and Midian to enlist Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel. Balak believed that a divine curse invoked by Balaam would grant him victory. Balaam initially consults God, who explicitly forbids him from going with the princes or cursing Israel, stating, "you shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." The princes' report in Numbers 22:14 marks the immediate response to God's initial prohibition and Balaam's relaying of that command, setting the stage for Balak's escalated persistence in seeking Balaam's services. The historical context shows ancient Near Eastern beliefs in the power of blessings and curses, and the practice of hiring seers. This episode underscores God's absolute sovereignty and protection over His chosen people, directly challenging pagan beliefs that such a curse could succeed against divine will.
Numbers 22 14 Word analysis
- So: In Hebrew, often conveyed by the preceding "And" (וַ - va-). Here, it implicitly connects Balaam's preceding response (not explicitly given in this verse but inferred from the context of Num 22:12-13) with the actions of the princes. It marks a consequence or direct next step in the narrative.
- the princes (שָׂרֵי - sarei): Plural construct form of שַׂר (sar), meaning 'chief', 'prince', 'ruler', 'official'. These were significant, high-ranking representatives of Balak's court, lending authority and urgency to their mission. Their return without Balaam indicated a failure on their part.
- of Moab (מוֹאָב - Mo'av): Refers to the kingdom and people of Moab, descended from Lot's incestuous relationship with his elder daughter (Gen 19:37). They were a Transjordanian nation, often in hostile relation to Israel, displaying fear and antagonism here towards the Israelites encamped on their borders.
- departed and went back: The Hebrew reads as a single verbal phrase (וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ - vayyashuvu vayyelchu), literally "and they returned and they went." The order emphasizes the act of returning (from Balaam's house) followed by their specific destination (to Balak). It signifies the completion of their failed mission.
- to Balak (אֶל־בָּלָק - el-Balak): King of Moab. His name might mean 'devastator' or 'waster', perhaps reflecting his role as an enemy to Israel. He is driven by intense fear and attempts to manipulate divine forces to protect his kingdom.
- and said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyo'mru): A standard Hebrew narrative conjunction and verb, introducing direct speech. It indicates their reporting of Balaam's refusal.
- Balaam (בִּלְעָם - Bil'am): A non-Israelite prophet or diviner from Pethor near the Euphrates. His reputation for blessing or cursing effectively led Balak to seek him. Though having some connection to Yahweh, he would later display greed and a willingness to compromise divine will, leading to Israel's downfall through temptation.
- refuses (מֵאֵן - me'en): Hebrew root is ma'an (מָאֵן), meaning 'to refuse', 'to decline', 'to object strongly'. This is a very strong and definite word, indicating Balaam made a clear and non-negotiable decision to say "no." At this point, it implies compliance with God's explicit instruction (Num 22:12), highlighting that the initial divine prohibition was clear and directly delivered.
- to come with us: Specifies the objective of Balak's request – to have Balaam physically accompany them to perform the ritual curse.
Word Group Analysis:
- "So the princes of Moab departed and went back to Balak": This phrase highlights the formality and diplomatic nature of the encounter. These were not common messengers but official representatives, underscoring Balak's desperation and the political stakes involved. Their journey back symbolizes the immediate failure of Balak's initial plan due to divine intervention.
- "Balaam refuses to come with us": This short, declarative statement delivered by the princes is powerful. It precisely conveys the outcome, focusing solely on Balaam's decisive "no." It does not provide reasons or excuses, simply the blunt fact that their mission was unsuccessful due to Balaam's refusal, which the audience knows (from Balaam's earlier interaction with God) to be divinely ordained. This terse report serves to provoke Balak's next, more aggressive strategy.
Numbers 22 14 Bonus section
The brevity of the princes' report in this verse (just "Balaam refuses to come with us") might suggest their surprise or even slight embarrassment at their inability to persuade him. It omits the divine command which was Balaam's actual reason, either because they didn't fully understand it or chose not to convey its theological weight to Balak, focusing only on the outcome. This silence regarding the divine prohibition could also be a subtle hint at Balaam's future compromise: he only reported the negative part of God's instruction, "you shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people," potentially leaving out "for they are blessed" (Num 22:12), which defines the reason for the prohibition and Israel's divine favor. This omission (or their ignorance of it) allows Balak to continue believing that more intense pressure might sway Balaam. The phrase "refuses to come" indicates Balaam's position, setting up the narrative tension between divine command and human will or greed that characterizes much of the Balaam story.
Numbers 22 14 Commentary
Numbers 22:14 succinctly reports the failure of Balak's initial diplomatic mission to secure Balaam's services. It reveals Balak's desperation in attempting to supernaturally hinder Israel and highlights the initial success of God's direct command to Balaam. Balaam's refusal, though outwardly obedient, still leaves room for ambiguity in his motives, setting the stage for his subsequent yielding to temptation. The verse is crucial in advancing the narrative, confirming that God's will cannot be easily thwarted and emphasizing the unwavering divine protection over Israel against even powerful sorcery or curses, foreshadowing the ultimate turning of curses into blessings. It's a testament to God's absolute sovereignty, showcasing how He controls events, even through unwilling or imperfect agents, to fulfill His purposes for His people.