Numbers 22 2

Numbers 22:2 kjv

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Numbers 22:2 nkjv

Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Numbers 22:2 niv

Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

Numbers 22:2 esv

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Numbers 22:2 nlt

Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites.

Numbers 22 verses

Numbers 22 2 Meaning

Numbers 22:2 concisely introduces Balak, the king of Moab, and reveals the immediate cause for his apprehension: his observation and clear understanding of the overwhelming victory Israel had recently achieved over the powerful Amorites. This direct knowledge fueled his fear, setting the stage for his subsequent attempts to hinder Israel through supernatural means.

Numbers 22 2 Context

Numbers 22:2 opens the highly significant "Balak and Balaam" narrative. This verse immediately follows Israel's decisive victories over the powerful Amorite kings, Sihon and Og (recorded in Numbers 21:21-35), which established Israel's control over Transjordan, bringing them directly to the borders of Moab. The historical context places Israel on the plains of Moab, nearing the Promised Land after four decades of wilderness wandering. The Moabites, though distant relatives of Israel (through Lot), viewed Israel's rapid conquest of their powerful neighbors, the Amorites, as an imminent existential threat. In the ancient Near East, military successes were often attributed to the superiority of a nation's deity, making Balak's fear a practical and strategic concern for his kingdom's survival against what he perceived as a formidable, supernaturally-aided force.

Numbers 22 2 Word analysis

• And Balak:

  • And: (וַיַּרְא, wa-yar') The Hebrew conjunction waw connecting this new action to Israel's recent conquests, indicating an immediate cause-and-effect relationship.
  • Balak: (בָּלָק, Balaq) The proper name of the king of Moab. The name may mean "devastator" or "waster," an ironic parallel to his intentions towards Israel, whom he fears as "devastators." He represents worldly opposition against God's chosen people.
  • Significance: This introduces the main human antagonist of the narrative, highlighting his royal authority and his subsequent desperate measures to counteract Israel's power.

• the son of Zippor:

  • (בֶּן־צִפֹּ֖ור, ben-Tsippor) Identifies Balak's lineage, solidifying his identity as the legitimate king of Moab.
  • Significance: Provides a concrete historical reference and legitimacy to Balak's kingship, underscoring that it is the recognized sovereign of Moab who perceives Israel as a threat.

• saw:

  • (וַיַּרְא, wa-yar') From the Hebrew verb רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning not just to visually perceive but to understand, comprehend, discern, or experience. It implies a clear, informed recognition.
  • Significance: Balak's fear is rooted in indisputable evidence, not mere rumor. He fully grasped the implications of Israel's actions, demonstrating his shrewdness as a ruler.

• all that Israel had done:

  • all that: (אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה, et kol-asher-ʿasa) Emphasizes the totality and completeness of Israel's victorious actions. It was not an isolated incident but a sequence of overwhelming successes.
  • Israel: (יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, Yisrael) Refers to the collective nation, God's chosen people.
  • had done: (עָשָׂ֥ה, ʿasa) To perform, make, or accomplish, referring specifically to their recent decisive military campaigns.
  • Significance: This phrase stresses the extent and undeniable nature of Israel's military might, amplified by God's assistance. This comprehensiveness heightened Balak's alarm.

• to the Amorites:

  • (לָאֱמֹרִֽי, la-ʾEmorî) Refers to the Amorites, a formidable, well-known Semitic people group who controlled significant portions of Canaan and Transjordan, including the powerful kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
  • Significance: The Amorites were established regional powers. Their utter defeat by Israel demonstrated Israel's capability to overcome entrenched, strong forces, making the threat to Moab undeniably serious and real. It served as a powerful testament to Israel's prowess.

Numbers 22 2 Bonus section

• The dramatic entrance of Balak at this juncture highlights the ongoing spiritual warfare theme in Numbers, where God's promises to Israel continually face external opposition from various nations.
• This verse effectively shifts the narrative's focus from Israel's journey and internal issues (as seen in recent murmuring episodes) to external threats, demonstrating God's consistent protection and intervention on behalf of His covenant people against formidable adversaries.
• The fact that Balak's fear arises from "all that Israel had done" underscores the visible evidence of God working through His people. It's not based on vague prophecies but on undeniable, military outcomes that were likely known across the region.

Numbers 22 2 Commentary

Numbers 22:2 sets the pivotal stage for a key theological narrative, initiating the dramatic confrontation between a fearful worldly king and the divine will protecting His people. Balak, having strategically observed Israel's undeniable, overwhelming victories against the powerful Amorites, perceived Israel as a direct existential threat to his kingdom. His "seeing" implied a deep, clear understanding of their power, recognizing not merely their numerical strength, but the efficacy of their actions. This recognition directly translates into his deep-seated fear in the subsequent verses. This verse emphasizes that God's plan for Israel's advancement was not secret but a publicly displayed act of power, creating fear and disarray among opposing nations, precisely as God had prophesied. The narrative immediately pivots from Israel's military success to a spiritual battle waged through attempted curses, showcasing the futility of human-led pagan attempts against a divinely blessed people.