Numbers 23 13

Numbers 23:13 kjv

And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.

Numbers 23:13 nkjv

Then Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from which you may see them; you shall see only the outer part of them, and shall not see them all; curse them for me from there."

Numbers 23:13 niv

Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me."

Numbers 23:13 esv

And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there."

Numbers 23:13 nlt

Then King Balak told him, "Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!"

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 13 Meaning

Numbers 23:13 records Balak's second attempt to induce Balaam to curse the Israelites after the first failed. Balak believes that changing the vantage point and presenting a partial view of Israel, rather than their entire vast encampment, might alter God's disposition and allow Balaam to pronounce a curse. It reveals Balak's deep fear and his mistaken belief that God's power or decision can be swayed or manipulated by human perspective or circumstances, effectively treating the Lord as a capricious pagan deity responsive to environmental changes or psychological influence.

Numbers 23 13 Context

Numbers chapter 23 is a critical section within the larger narrative of Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24). Following their miraculous exodus and wilderness journey, the Israelites are poised on the borders of Moab, preparing to enter the Promised Land. Balak, the King of Moab, deeply fears the numerous Israelites and believes he can combat their strength through supernatural means—a curse. He hires Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner renowned for his ability to bless or curse effectively.

In Numbers 23:1-12, Balak takes Balaam to a "high place of Baal" to observe the Israelites and attempt a curse, but Balaam, compelled by the Lord, pronounces a blessing instead (Num 23:8-12). Undeterred and misinterpreting the failure, Balak blames the vantage point or the overwhelming sight of Israel's vast numbers for the lack of a curse. He rationalizes that if only a portion of the camp were visible, the curse might take effect. Verse 13 marks Balak's immediate response: he proposes a second location, believing a change of scenery and limited visibility will bypass God's declared will, exposing his pagan belief that deity can be manipulated by human rituals, perspective, or a strategic setting. This sets up the second oracle in Numbers 23:14-26.

Numbers 23 13 Word analysis

• Then Balak said to him: This highlights Balak's continued initiative and determination. He remains focused on his goal, demonstrating persistence despite the initial setback.
• "Come with me": (Lēḵ lî - literally "go for me" or "go with me"). An imperative, signaling Balak's renewed attempt to persuade Balaam, emphasizing his desire for Balaam's presence and cooperation.
• to another place: (’el-māqōm ’aḥēr) This is significant. Balak's superstition implies that the effectiveness of a curse, or even God's response, is contingent on the physical environment or visual cues. He thinks Yahweh operates like a pagan deity who might be less offended or more amenable if the full magnitude of Israel isn't on display.
  • ’el: (preposition) "to, toward, into".
  • māqōm: (מָקוֹם) "place, stand, locality." In a cultic sense, often implies a sacred site.
  • ’aḥēr: (אַחֵר) "other, another." Signifies a distinct change from the previous location (Bamoth-Baal, v.4). Balak is trying a new strategy.
• from which you may see them: (’aṣer tir’ennu) "that you might see them".
  • ra'ah: (רָאָה) The verb "to see, look at, perceive." Balak still wants Balaam to see Israel, but with a critical limitation.
• though you will see only a part of them: (raḥ ‘et-qēṣēhū) Literally "you will only see its extremity." This is the core of Balak's manipulative strategy.
  • raq: (רַק) "only, merely, but, nevertheless." An exclusive particle, underscoring the limitation.
  • qēṣeh: (קְצֵה) "end, extremity, border, part." The Hebrew suggests the fringe or edge of something, not the entire body. Balak’s intention is to reduce the perceived visual "threat" or "overwhelming" nature of Israel’s population, hoping it would allow God to permit the curse. This reveals his pagan mindset: numbers (or a perceived vulnerability) might influence divine decision. He underestimates God's omniscience and omnipotence.
• and not all of them: (wəḵolō lo tir'eh) Explicitly stating the limitation, reinforcing Balak's intent to control the visual input.
• And curse them for me from there: (wəqabbēn li-miššām)
  • qabab: (קָבַב) "to curse, pronounce a curse on, defy." This is a specific, strong word for an evil pronouncement intended to bind or utterly destroy, different from other words for curse like ’arar.
  • lî: (לִי) "for me." Emphasizes Balak's personal interest and the reason he hired Balaam.
  • miššām: (מִשָּׁם) "from there." Reinforces that the curse is to be pronounced from this specific new, restricted vantage point.

Words-group analysis:

• "Come with me to another place from which you may see them": Balak asserts control over Balaam’s physical location, implicitly linking location to prophetic efficacy. This reflects a common pagan belief that certain sites (high places) are more potent or conducive for interacting with deities, and that proximity or perspective affects divine intervention.
• "though you will see only a part of them and not all of them": This phrase exposes Balak’s deep theological misunderstanding. He treats God as a limited, sight-bound deity susceptible to human-orchestrated optical illusions. He thinks God's assessment of Israel (as a threat) is based on outward appearance or numbers seen, not on God's divine decree, sovereign purpose, or covenant faithfulness. Balak tries to reduce Israel to a manageable, less intimidating foe, psychologically and spiritually. He fails to grasp God's omniscient, comprehensive understanding that transcends physical sight.
• "And curse them for me from there": The renewed demand for a curse, precisely from this strategically selected "partial view," emphasizes Balak's desperation and unwavering aim to use divine power to destroy his enemy. He continues to press for Balaam to bend the divine will to his own, failing to understand that God cannot be manipulated against His own fixed purpose for Israel.

Numbers 23 13 Bonus section

• The strategic "another place" (Num 23:14: "to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah") continues the high-place theme, common in ancient Near Eastern pagan worship for communicating with deities. Balak's reliance on specific, ritually significant locations underscores his deeply ingrained pagan worldview.
• Balak's belief that a partial view could change divine decree implicitly suggests a view of God's "sight" as something akin to human vision—fallible and dependent on perspective. This is a direct challenge, albeit unknowingly by Balak, to God's omnipresence and omniscience, attributes profoundly important to understanding Yahweh's nature.
• The persistence of Balak, echoed through these multiple attempts (v. 1-12, v. 13-26, and again in Num 23:27-24:9), serves to magnify God's unwavering resolve and demonstrate His ultimate control over all powers, even those invoked by celebrated diviners like Balaam. It portrays the steadfastness of God's purpose in blessing Israel, even against the determined opposition of their enemies.

Numbers 23 13 Commentary

Numbers 23:13 highlights the futility of human efforts to thwart divine will through manipulative means. Balak's proposal to change location and limit Balaam's view of Israel springs from a pagan worldview that posits deities can be appeased or swayed by human-controlled environments and offerings, or even tricked by manipulating visual inputs. He believes the sheer sight of Israel's multitude at the first location was overwhelming, perhaps even to the Lord, preventing a curse. By suggesting Balaam view only a "part" (qēṣeh, the extremity or edge), Balak attempts to make Israel seem less formidable, hoping to circumvent God's protective blessing.

However, this reveals a profound theological error. God is not limited by human perspective or physical location; He sees all, knows all, and His declarations are eternal and unchangeable. His blessing on Israel, first articulated to Abraham, is rooted in His character and covenant, not in Israel's numbers or appearance from a specific hillside. Balaam's subsequent prophetic utterance, "God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent" (Num 23:19), directly refutes Balak's superstitious attempt to influence God's mind. The Lord’s plan and blessings cannot be revoked by any human strategem or pagan divination. The passage thus underscores God’s absolute sovereignty and faithfulness to His chosen people, affirming that what God has blessed, no man, king, or diviner can curse.