Numbers 23 17

Numbers 23:17 kjv

And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?

Numbers 23:17 nkjv

So he came to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"

Numbers 23:17 niv

So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, "What did the LORD say?"

Numbers 23:17 esv

And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"

Numbers 23:17 nlt

So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked eagerly.

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 17 Meaning

Numbers 23:17 portrays Balak's immediate and anxious inquiry to Balaam, moments after Balaam returned from a second solitary encounter with the Lord. Having already been frustrated by the first blessing instead of a curse, Balak's persistence is evident as he awaits, accompanied by Moabite princes, beside yet another set of burnt offerings, anticipating a word from YHWH regarding Israel. His direct question, "What has the Lord spoken?" underscores his unwavering focus on the divine word, desperately hoping for a changed outcome or a message that would allow him to curse the Israelites.

Numbers 23 17 Context

Numbers chapter 23 recounts two of Balak's attempts to persuade Balaam to curse Israel, each initiated from a new vantage point after the previous failure. Having just received the first oracle where YHWH turned the intended curse into a blessing for Israel (Nu 23:7-10), Balak's frustration led him to move Balaam to another high place, Pisgah, thinking a change of scenery might change YHWH's mind or provide a different prophetic outlook. Balak provided seven new altars and burnt offerings, signifying his continued desperate efforts to secure a malevolent word. Balaam then retreated to meet with the Lord again, as was his practice, leaving Balak and the Moabite princes in eager anticipation. Verse 17 directly follows this preparation, capturing Balak's immediate and demanding question upon Balaam's return, reflecting his deep-seated fear of Israel and his conviction that a specific word from a powerful deity could turn the tide. This setting emphasizes Balak's persistent attempt to manipulate divine power, unaware of God's unyielding plan and sovereignty.

Numbers 23 17 Word analysis

• "And he came" (וַיָּבֹא - vayyavo): This word signifies Balaam's return to Balak after seeking divine communication. It's a simple, direct narrative verb, marking a crucial re-engagement in the ongoing prophetic drama.
• "to him" (אֵלָיו - elayv): Refers directly to Balak. It highlights the one to whom Balaam reports, underscoring the purpose of Balaam's departure.
• "and behold" (וְהִנֵּה - v'hinneh): An emphatic interjection. It draws immediate attention to the scene Balaam encounters upon his return, indicating something significant, noticeable, or perhaps surprising in its stillness and expectation.
• "he stood" (נִצָּב - nitstav): From the root natsav (נצב), this Nifal participle implies a standing that is firm, positioned, or even stationed, rather than casual. It conveys Balak's expectant and perhaps anxious posture, ready to receive the word.
• "beside his burnt offering" (עַל עֹלָתוֹ - al olato): Al means "upon" or "beside." Olah (עֹלָה) is a whole burnt offering, completely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication and seeking favor. This detail underscores Balak's deep investment in the ritual process and his continued attempt to appease or influence the divine will, demonstrating his commitment to the ongoing divination.
• "and the princes of Moab with him" (וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב עִמּוֹ - v'sarei Mo'av immo): The presence of the "princes" (שָׂרֵי - sarei), high-ranking officials or chiefs, indicates that this was not a private matter but a public, national consultation. This adds pressure and gravity to the situation, with the fate of Moab hanging on the prophetic outcome.
• "And Balak said to him" (וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֵלָיו - vayyomer Balaq elayv): A standard narrative phrase introducing Balak's immediate question.
• "What" (מַה - mah): An interrogative pronoun, leading to a direct and pointed inquiry.
• "has the Lord spoken?" (דִּבֶּר יְהוָה - dibber YHWH): Dibber is the Piel perfect form of davar (דבר), signifying a specific, definite, and purposeful utterance. Balak asks not what Balaam felt or saw, but specifically what YHWH, the God of Israel, said. This acknowledges that Balaam is indeed a conduit for YHWH's authoritative word, despite Balak's hope for a different message from a divine source that is inherently opposed to Israel. The use of YHWH here highlights the supreme authority of the God of Israel, even among pagan kings.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he came to him, and behold, he stood beside his burnt offering": This phrase paints a vivid picture of expectation. Balaam's return meets Balak's anxious, almost frozen stance by the active altar. The repeated emphasis on the "burnt offering" underscores Balak's deep religious investment and persistent ritual actions in pursuit of his desire, revealing his hope for a favorable message to emerge from the sacrifices.
• "What has the Lord spoken?": This climactic question demonstrates Balak's singular focus. Despite his attempts to maneuver the situation by moving locations and offering new sacrifices, he understood that the true power resided in YHWH's declared word. The question highlights his recognition of YHWH's authority even while struggling against His divine will.

Numbers 23 17 Bonus section

• The detail of "the princes of Moab with him" serves to underscore the public and weighty nature of this prophetic consultation. Balak's attempts were not just personal acts of desperation, but a strategic national effort to overcome a formidable enemy. This public pressure amplified Balak's humiliation when God's repeated blessing on Israel was pronounced.
• The persistence of Balak, despite the clear failure of the first attempt, serves as a poignant illustration of human stubbornness and futility in trying to oppose the sovereign will of God. He attempts to influence God through altered conditions and renewed rituals, showcasing a limited understanding of God's unchanging character and omnipotence.
• The recurring presence of the "burnt offering" highlights the centrality of ritual in the ancient Near Eastern attempt to connect with or manipulate divine power. However, in this narrative, YHWH demonstrates that He is not manipulated by human sacrifices but acts according to His own will and covenant purposes.

Numbers 23 17 Commentary

Numbers 23:17 captures a moment of intense anticipation, revealing Balak's unyielding hope for a malevolent word against Israel despite YHWH's initial declaration of blessing. Balak's immediate and direct question upon Balaam's return, "What has the Lord spoken?", lays bare his deep anxiety and desperation. It illustrates his acknowledgment that the power resided not in Balaam's sorcery or the sacrifices themselves, but solely in the divine utterance of YHWH, the God of Israel. Even a pagan king like Balak recognized that Balaam's authority derived from channeling the true God's word, though Balak stubbornly believed he could somehow coax or compel a different outcome through changing ritual locations and renewing offerings. This scene perfectly sets the stage for the revelation of God's unchangeable purpose to bless Israel, reinforcing His sovereignty over all human machinations and prophecies.