Numbers 23 29

Numbers 23:29 kjv

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Numbers 23:29 nkjv

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

Numbers 23:29 niv

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

Numbers 23:29 esv

And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

Numbers 23:29 nlt

Balaam again told Balak, "Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice."

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 29 Meaning

Numbers 23:29 records Balaam's instruction to Balak, after two failed attempts to curse Israel, to prepare for a third divinatory ritual. Balaam commands the construction of seven altars and the provision of seven bulls and seven rams as sacrifices. This shows his continued determination to secure a curse, believing that intensified and meticulously ordered pagan rituals from a new vantage point might yet persuade God or unlock a different outcome, despite previous divine pronouncements of blessing upon Israel.

Numbers 23 29 Context

Numbers chapter 23 recounts the first two of three distinct attempts by King Balak of Moab to have the prophet Balaam curse the Israelites. Israel had camped on the plains of Moab, greatly concerning Balak (Num 22:3-4). Despite God's explicit instruction not to curse Israel (Num 22:12), Balaam eventually went with Balak's envoys, having received modified divine permission that he could only speak what God told him (Num 22:20, 35).

In the first attempt (Num 23:1-12), from the "high places of Baal," Balaam sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams on seven altars and then spoke a blessing upon Israel as commanded by God. In the second attempt (Num 23:13-26), from the field of Zophim, on the top of Pisgah, with a similar elaborate ritual, Balaam again could only utter God's blessings. Frustrated but still hopeful, Balak asks for another try (Num 23:27). Numbers 23:29 initiates this third and final sequence of events, where Balaam again resorts to a change of location and a repetition of the ritualistic sacrifices, indicative of his ingrained pagan-like practice of divination despite his connection to the true God. This setting underscores the futility of human efforts to overturn God's sovereign will and declared blessings.

Numbers 23 29 Word Analysis

• And Balaam said to Balak,

  • "And": (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) Connects this statement directly to Balak's preceding exasperation and suggestion to try a new location (Num 23:27-28). It signifies the continuation of their determined but ultimately futile dialogue and effort.
  • "Balaam": The Mesopotamian prophet or diviner hired by Balak. Despite experiencing Yahweh's direct interventions and being compelled to bless Israel twice, he initiates yet another ritual, showing his persistence in using his methods to try and manipulate spiritual forces or influence God's will.
  • "said to Balak": Highlights Balaam's active role in setting the conditions for the third attempt. He is the expert on rituals, even if the one paying.

• Build me here seven altars

  • "Build me": (בְּנֵה־לִי - beneh-li) An imperative command, showcasing Balaam's authority in the execution of these rituals. "Me" indicates the altars are to serve his specific divinatory purposes.
  • "here": (בָּזֶה - ba-zeh) Points to the specific new location on the "top of Peor" (Num 23:28). This change of location suggests Balaam's belief in the importance of geographical "vantage points" or "sacred spaces" for the efficacy of his spiritual workings—a common characteristic of ancient Near Eastern paganism.
  • "seven": (שִׁבְעָה - shiv'ah) This number symbolizes completeness, perfection, or fullness in biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts. Its repeated use signifies an intense, comprehensive, and perfectly ordered ritual designed to leave nothing undone, to compel a desired outcome, or to honor divine beings thoroughly. In a pagan context, it could signify addressing all possible deities or ensuring maximal power for the curse. In a distorted way, it mimics God's patterns (e.g., seven days of creation, seven-fold blessings/judgments).
  • "altars": (מִזְבְּחֹת - mizbechot) Sacred structures for offering sacrifices. The command to build multiple altars, specifically seven, further emphasizes the ritualistic intensity. While Israel often had a single, central altar for sacrifice (e.g., in the Tabernacle), multiple altars for a single event are more indicative of polytheistic practices aiming to appease numerous deities or approach one deity from various spiritual 'directions' or with increased intensity.

• and prepare me here seven bulls

  • "and prepare me": (וְהָכֵן־לִי - vehakhen-li) "Make ready," or "arrange for me." Again, Balaam directs the specific requirements.
  • "here": Repetition emphasizes the specific, chosen spot for this round of offerings.
  • "seven bulls": (שִׁבְעָה פָּרִים - shiv'ah parim)
    • "Bulls": A significant and costly animal, often used for major offerings in both Israelite (e.g., atonement, consecration) and pagan sacrificial systems. They represent substantial value and gravity of the ritual.
    • "seven": Again, underscores the comprehensive and intensified nature of the offering.

• and seven rams.

  • "and seven rams": (וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִים - veshiv'ah eylim)
    • "Rams": Another type of significant sacrificial animal, often used for burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, or peace offerings. Their inclusion alongside bulls further expands the scale and costliness of the proposed ritual, intended to maximize its potency.
    • "seven": The recurring use of "seven" across altars, bulls, and rams emphasizes a ritual of perfection and totality, a grand scale effort to achieve the curse by attempting to perfectly execute all spiritual requirements.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.": This entire instruction demonstrates Balaam's persistence and his reliance on specific, highly structured ritualistic practices common in ancient Near Eastern divination. The repeated "seven" across multiple elements of the offering signifies a deliberate attempt to achieve a perfect, potent ritual. Balaam's approach implies a belief that God can be persuaded, coerced, or influenced by the right type and intensity of ritual from the right location. This contrasts sharply with the biblical revelation of God's unchangeable purpose and sovereignty, which cannot be manipulated by human efforts or occult practices. It showcases a pagan methodology, seeking to influence deity through carefully performed actions, applied to the context of Yahweh.

Numbers 23 29 Bonus Section

• The number three as a literary motif: This is the third of Balaam's major divinatory attempts against Israel, often signifying completion or the last chance within a narrative cycle. Each attempt follows a similar pattern, reinforcing God's unyielding word.
• Polemics against contemporary paganism: The narrative powerfully refutes the efficacy of ancient Near Eastern divinatory practices and their gods. Balaam, a skilled diviner, is utterly unable to produce a curse when pitted against the sovereign will of Yahweh. This serves as a strong message to Israel that their God is supreme over all other powers and principalities invoked by their enemies.
• Balaam's moral ambiguity: While a recipient of divine revelation, Balaam continuously oscillates between obeying Yahweh's direct word and seeking to fulfill the desires of Balak for profit (though here it's implied the ritual fee already committed him to this attempt). His command for repeated sacrifices reveals a mind deeply ingrained in a pagan understanding of divine manipulation.

Numbers 23 29 Commentary

Numbers 23:29 vividly portrays Balaam's unyielding resolve to fulfill Balak's request, despite the clear and consistent word of the LORD to the contrary. Having failed twice, he does not abandon his methods; instead, he doubles down, intensifying the ritual elements. His call for a third set of "seven altars, seven bulls, and seven rams" at a new location ("top of Peor") signifies a deeply rooted superstitious belief that a change in setting combined with a full and "perfect" ritual could somehow manipulate or compel the divine power to act in their favor. This contrasts with God's nature, who does not change His mind or yield to human rituals designed to override His stated will (Mal 3:6, Num 23:19). The precise instruction to provide costly animals and multiple altars highlights Balak's desperation and Balaam's commercial drive (2 Pet 2:15, Jude 1:11). The underlying message is that no amount of pagan ritual, no intensity of offering, and no manipulation of spiritual techniques can overturn the protective decree of God concerning His people. It illustrates the futility of human and demonic attempts to curse those whom God has blessed.