Numbers 23 30

Numbers 23:30 kjv

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 23:30 nkjv

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 23:30 niv

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:30 esv

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:30 nlt

So Balak did as Balaam ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23 verses

Numbers 23 30 Meaning

Numbers 23:30 describes Balak's immediate and continued obedience to Balaam's instructions by offering a bull and a ram on each of the previously constructed seven altars. This act was a further, elaborate attempt to obtain divine intervention through ritual sacrifices to curse the Israelites, following two previous failed attempts. It signifies Balak's persistent determination and willingness to spare no expense in seeking to counteract God's protective hand over Israel, even as God repeatedly turned Balaam's curses into blessings.

Numbers 23 30 Context

Numbers chapter 23 recounts the second and third attempts by Balak, king of Moab, to induce the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelite encampment. Fearing the vast number of Israelites encroaching on his land, Balak employed Balaam, known for his ability to bless and curse. In both the first and second attempts (vv. 1-12, 13-26), Balak led Balaam to different high places, built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each. Despite Balaam's desire to please Balak, God repeatedly put words of blessing into Balaam's mouth instead of curses, declaring Israel's unique divine favor and destiny. Verse 30 specifically describes Balak's action after the second oracle (v. 26), following Balaam's suggestion in verse 29 to move locations and prepare altars again. Balak's immediate compliance highlights his desperate hope that a change of scenery and continued costly sacrifice would somehow yield the desired magical result, despite God's clear opposition. The historical context reveals the Moabites' long-standing animosity towards Israel and their pagan worship practices, which involved numerous and expensive sacrifices to appease their deities.

Numbers 23 30 Word analysis

• And Balak (וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק - vayya'as Balak):
  • `Balak` (בָּלָק): The king of Moab, consistently portrayed as the primary antagonist seeking to thwart Israel through supernatural means. His name itself might mean "devastator" or "destroyer."
  • `did` (עָשָׂה - `asah`): "To make," "do," "perform," or "carry out." This signifies Balak's swift and literal execution of Balaam's instructions, emphasizing his diligence and hopeful anticipation of a different outcome from previous attempts.
• as Balaam had said (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בִּלְעָם - ka'asher dibber Bil'am):
  • `as` (כַּאֲשֶׁר - ka'asher): Denotes accordance, indicating precise adherence to Balaam's counsel from Numbers 23:29.
  • `Balaam` (בִּלְעָם): A non-Israelite diviner or prophet whose words were potent due to his connection, however unusual, with the God of Israel. His "saying" here, although not directly inspired for blessing, is followed religiously by Balak, reflecting a pagan king's belief in a prophet's guidance. This phrase highlights Balaam's authoritative role for Balak, despite God having continually thwarted his plans to curse.
  • `had said` (דִּבֶּר - dibber): From the verb `dabar`, "to speak" or "to command." This indicates a verbal instruction, clearly outlining the specific actions for Balak.
• and offered up (וַיַּעַל - vayya'al):
  • From the root `ʿalah` (עלָה), meaning "to go up," "ascend." This specific verb is intrinsically linked to the "burnt offering" (`ʿolah`), where the entire offering ascends to God in smoke, signifying complete dedication and consumption. It is the standard term for offering burnt sacrifices in Israelite and pagan contexts, emphasizing the ritualistic nature of the act.
• a bull (פַּר - par) and a ram (אַיִל - 'ayil):
  • `Bull` (פַּר): A young bull. A large, costly animal, often used for significant sin offerings (e.g., Lev 4:3) or for burnt offerings that symbolize strength and full commitment. Its inclusion signifies the high value and sincerity Balak placed on this offering.
  • `Ram` (אַיִל): A male sheep. Another valuable sacrificial animal, commonly used for burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, or peace offerings. Their joint offering indicates a major and complete offering, typical of significant religious rituals, aimed at appeasing or influencing the divine.
• on every altar (עַל כָּל מִזְבֵּחַ - al kol mizbeach):
  • `every` (כָּל - kol): "All," "every," "whole." This emphasizes the repeated, comprehensive, and meticulous nature of the sacrifices. It's not just one altar but all seven mentioned in Num 23:29.
  • `altar` (מִזְבֵּחַ - mizbeach): A "place of sacrifice," derived from the root `zabach`, "to slaughter." The construction of seven altars is culturally significant, with "seven" often symbolizing completeness or perfection, indicating Balak's attempt at a maximally effective ritual. This multitude of altars and offerings underlines the desperation and intensity of Balak's desire for the curse to succeed, as if overwhelming the deity with the sheer volume of worship.
• Word Group: "And Balak did as Balaam had said"
  • This phrase highlights the immediate obedience and trust Balak placed in Balaam's prophetic instructions, even though those instructions seemed to yield repeated failures in his ultimate objective. It demonstrates Balak's deep commitment to following the ritual advice, underscoring the authority Balaam held in his eyes despite divine interventions.
• Word Group: "offered up a bull and a ram on every altar"
  • This phrase underscores the massive and repeated cost Balak incurred, not just financially (large animals on seven altars) but also in effort. The specificity of the animals (bull and ram) indicates a typical burnt offering, aiming for complete dedication and supplication. The emphasis on "every altar" (the seven built previously) illustrates the systematic and comprehensive nature of his attempt, showing his absolute commitment to ritual as a means to achieve his will, even against the divine will of Yahweh. This showcases the futility of human-driven ritualistic efforts when they are not aligned with God's sovereign plan.

Numbers 23 30 Bonus section

The act of offering on seven altars, using a bull and a ram on each, reveals a theological point. The number seven in the Bible frequently symbolizes completion, perfection, or divine order. Balak's use of seven altars might have been an attempt to ensure completeness in his ritual or to mimic a perfect sacred space, possibly derived from universal religious symbolism, though its effectiveness was completely negated by Yahweh's overriding will. This contrasts with Israel's divinely ordained worship where altars were primarily singular or limited in number (e.g., one central altar for national burnt offerings), signifying the unity and singularity of the God they worshipped. Balak's excessive sacrifice, though performed with meticulous adherence to pagan practices, stands as a clear polemic against the efficacy of idolatry and manipulation of God. It shows that the true God cannot be bribed, coerced, or overwhelmed by sheer quantity of offerings, particularly when the heart and intention are malicious and opposed to His righteous purpose. Balaam's counsel to Balak to continue these sacrifices, despite God's previous declarations of blessing, might have been a subtle ploy to extend the lucrative contract or perhaps a misguided belief that a different vantage point and fresh rituals would change God's mind. Ultimately, the verse emphasizes divine sovereignty over all human machinations and magical arts.

Numbers 23 30 Commentary

Numbers 23:30 reveals Balak's unyielding persistence in his pagan faith and his unwavering trust in Balaam's methods, despite their consistent failure to achieve the desired outcome. The meticulous execution of Balaam's instruction – offering valuable animals on multiple altars – illustrates a deep-seated belief that ritualistic acts could influence or coerce the divine. This verse underscores the futility of even grand and costly human efforts when they are fundamentally opposed to God's sovereign plan. It stands as a powerful testament to the immutability of God's blessing upon His chosen people, demonstrating that no amount of sacrifice or divinatory artifice can overturn His declared will. This repeated, costly ritual from Balak, ironically mirroring true worship's form but with twisted intent, sets the stage for Balaam's third and final set of divinely compelled blessings, emphasizing that Yahweh is unmanipulable by human schemes.