Numbers 23:2 kjv
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
Numbers 23:2 nkjv
And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Numbers 23:2 niv
Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Numbers 23:2 esv
Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
Numbers 23:2 nlt
Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.
Numbers 23 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:5 | he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying... | Balak sends for Balaam |
| Num 23:1 | And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” | Balaam's instructions fulfilled here |
| Num 23:3-5 | And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me... and the Lord met Balaam... | The divine encounter Balaam seeks |
| Deut 23:4-5 | ...they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and hired against you Balaam the son of Beor...but the Lord God turned the curse into a blessing. | God's intervention turning curse to blessing |
| Josh 24:9-10 | Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. But I would not listen to Balaam... | God protected Israel from the curse |
| Neh 13:2 | because they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. | Reiteration of God's power and faithfulness |
| Micah 6:5 | O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him...that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord. | Remembrance of God's mighty deliverance |
| Ps 109:28 | Let them curse, but you bless; they arise and are put to shame, but your servant will rejoice. | God's blessing overcomes curses |
| Prov 26:2 | Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. | Unjust curses are futile |
| Is 44:25 | who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish; | God thwarts false prophecies |
| Jer 14:14 | But the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them... They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination..." | Against false prophets and divination |
| 2 Pet 2:15 | They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing... | Balaam's corrupt motive |
| 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... | Balaam's covetousness is a warning |
| Rev 2:14 | But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel... | Balaam's insidious advice |
| Num 22:20 | And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them; but only do what I tell you.” | God's ultimate control over Balaam |
| Num 31:16 | Behold, these, on Balaam's counsel, incited the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor... | Balaam's later treacherous counsel |
| Gen 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” | God's irrevocable covenant blessing |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God's sovereign plan cannot be thwarted |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | God's commitment to His chosen people |
| Heb 10:4 | For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. | Sacrifices alone are ineffective for ultimate power or forgiveness, a deeper purpose |
Numbers 23 verses
Numbers 23 2 Meaning
Numbers 23:2 details Balak's immediate obedience to Balaam's instructions regarding the preparation for seeking a divine curse upon Israel. Balak faithfully replicates the ritualistic offerings prescribed by Balaam, sacrificing a bullock and a ram on each of the seven altars previously constructed, in an elaborate pagan ritual aimed at manipulating God's power. This act signifies the Moabite king's desperate reliance on divination and sacrificial rites to thwart the advancing Israelites, demonstrating his complete commitment to Balaam's strategy to invoke a divine curse.
Numbers 23 2 Context
Numbers chapter 23 initiates the prophetic oracles of Balaam, setting the stage after Balak's frantic efforts to hire him to curse Israel in chapter 22. Balaam's initial instructions to Balak in Numbers 23:1 involve constructing seven altars and preparing a specific number of pure sacrificial animals (seven bulls and seven rams). This immediate verse (23:2) demonstrates Balak's swift compliance. The broader context of Numbers 22-24 narrates the unique episode of Balak, King of Moab, attempting to employ the non-Israelite diviner Balaam to curse the advancing Israelites. Despite Balak's repeated attempts and substantial offerings, Balaam is divinely constrained to bless Israel rather than curse them, profoundly revealing God's sovereignty over pagan magic and the destinies of nations. Historically, this account is situated as Israel concludes its wilderness wanderings and approaches the promised land, facing various hostile encounters from surrounding peoples.
Numbers 23 2 Word analysis
- And Balak did according as (וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק כַּאֲשֶׁר, va-ya'as Balaq ka'asher):
- "And Balak did" (va-ya'as Balaq): Shows Balak's immediate and literal execution of Balaam's command. His urgency reflects his desperation and conviction in Balaam's ability.
- "according as" (ka'asher): Indicates strict adherence to the given instructions. It highlights Balak's dependence on Balaam's knowledge of what would appease or compel a deity.
- Balaam had appointed (דִּבֶּר בִּלְעָם, dibber Bil'am):
- "Balaam had appointed" (dibber Bil'am): The Hebrew dibber signifies not just speaking but commanding or ordering. Balaam functions as a master of ceremonies, directing the ritual. This underscores Balaam's presumed authority as a powerful diviner, acknowledged by Balak.
- and offered on every altar (וַיַּעַל עַל־כָּל־מִזְבֵּחַ, va-ya'al al-kol-mizbeach):
- "and offered" (va-ya'al): This verb means "he caused to ascend," referring specifically to a burnt offering (olah). This type of offering was entirely consumed by fire, signifying complete dedication or surrender to a deity, or in this context, a complete effort to influence divine power. It aligns with standard sacrificial practices in the ancient Near East, not exclusively Israelite.
- "on every altar" (al-kol-mizbeach): Confirms that the sacrifices were meticulously carried out on each of the seven altars prepared in verse 23:1. The number seven is significant, often symbolizing completeness or perfection, suggesting a maximal effort to achieve the desired supernatural outcome.
- a bullock and a ram (פַּר וְאַיִל, par v'ayil):
- "a bullock" (par): A young bull, a substantial and valuable animal sacrifice, often associated with important offerings and sin offerings in the Israelite system, but also used by pagans. It represents a significant cost and seriousness to the offering.
- "and a ram" (v'ayil): A male sheep, another common sacrificial animal across ancient Near Eastern cultures. These animals were "clean" according to the Israelite Law, perhaps reflecting Balaam's understanding of the nature of the God he was attempting to consult/manipulate. The inclusion of two different, pure animals suggests a comprehensive and powerful offering ritual.
Numbers 23 2 Bonus section
- The ritual described, involving multiple altars and specific "pure" animals, bears similarities to sacrificial practices across the ancient Near East, suggesting a common understanding among various cultures regarding powerful appeasement or compulsion of deities.
- Balaam, despite being hired to curse, follows a pattern that, superficially, mirrors an Israelite prophet seeking the Lord's word after offering sacrifice. This subtly positions YHWH as the supreme deity whom even foreign diviners must approach through recognized (or at least parallel) rites, only to find He cannot be controlled.
- The precise detail of "every altar" (seven in total) underlines the thoroughness of the intended pagan enchantment. No effort or expense was spared in attempting to invoke what they hoped would be a potent curse.
Numbers 23 2 Commentary
Numbers 23:2 succinctly depicts Balak's literal and fervent obedience to Balaam's ritualistic instructions. This act highlights the pagan conviction that elaborate sacrifices, precisely performed, could influence the divine to grant their desires, specifically to curse Israel. The scene emphasizes Balak's desperate state, investing heavily in these elaborate rites—seven altars, each receiving a costly bullock and a ram. The nature of the offering, a "burnt offering" (olah), signifies a complete surrender or attempt at compelling divine will. Yet, the divine irony is that despite Balak and Balaam's meticulous pagan preparations to manipulate the Lord for ill, God's sovereignty proves absolute. He orchestrates events so that Balaam, despite his intentions and the pagan ritual framework, is compelled to pronounce only blessings upon Israel. This serves as a powerful testament to God's ultimate control, rendering all attempts to thwart His plan futile. It demonstrates that true divine power cannot be coerced or controlled by human rites or wealth, and God's blessings for His chosen people are irrevocable regardless of adversarial human or supernatural attempts.