Numbers 24 10

Numbers 24:10 kjv

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:10 nkjv

Then Balak's anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times!

Numbers 24:10 niv

Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:10 esv

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:10 nlt

King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, "I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.

Numbers 24 verses

Numbers 24 10 Meaning

Numbers 24:10 captures Balak’s explosive fury and deep frustration upon realizing Balaam’s persistent inability to curse Israel. Despite Balak’s fervent pleas and promises of reward, Balaam has, for the third time, pronounced divine blessings rather than curses upon the very people Balak sought to destroy. This verse marks the climactic moment of Balak's exasperation, culminating in an angry physical gesture and a sharp verbal reprimand, demonstrating the absolute reversal of his plans by divine decree.

Numbers 24 10 Context

Numbers chapter 24 verse 10 stands as a dramatic climax within the extended narrative of Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24). Balak, king of Moab, deeply feared the vast numbers and power of the Israelite encampment. He desperately sought to employ Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel, believing that such a curse would render them vulnerable to defeat. Balaam, though enticed by riches, was repeatedly restrained by the LORD and could only utter the words God put into his mouth.

Earlier in Numbers 24, Balaam had delivered a series of oracles. His initial attempts to curse Israel in chapters 22 and 23 failed, turning into blessings. In the verse preceding this one (Num 24:9), Balaam's final and most elaborate blessing was pronounced, affirming Israel's unique status, protection, and future triumph, concluding with a poetic phrase echoing Genesis 49:9 – "He couches, he lies down as a lion...Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you." This direct reversal of Balak’s intent, combined with the profound divine favor Balaam declared upon Israel, ignited Balak's rage. Culturally, smiting hands together was a forceful non-verbal expression of exasperation, regret, disappointment, or scorn, highlighting Balak's complete loss of composure and his absolute powerlessness in the face of divine intervention. This moment served as a potent polemic against pagan beliefs that spiritual power could be hired or manipulated to defy the will of the true God.

Numbers 24 10 Word analysis

• "And Balak's anger": Original Hebrew: אַף בָּלָק ('aph Balak). 'Aph literally means "nose" or "nostril" but metaphorically signifies intense, flaring anger, often suggesting a quick, powerful outburst. This denotes an immediate and visceral reaction from Balak, signifying his mounting frustration.
• "was kindled": Hebrew: חָרָה (charah). This verb describes something becoming hot or inflamed, commonly used for the intensity of anger, implying that Balak's rage had not just appeared, but had actively burned and grown fierce. It suggests a rising, possibly uncontrollable, fury.
• "against Balaam": Balaam, the very man Balak hired to solve his problem, became the immediate object of his intense wrath. This signifies Balak redirecting his anger from the perceived threat of Israel to the apparent failure of his instrument.
• "and he smote his hands together": Hebrew: וַיִּסְפֹּק אֶת כַּפָּיו (vayispōq 'et kappāv). This powerful physical gesture is a common expression in the ancient Near East and elsewhere. It conveys a deep level of exasperation, bitter disappointment, astonishment, helplessness, or intense disapproval and scorn. It underscores the severity of Balak's emotional state, indicating profound frustration at the repeated failure of his plan.
• "and Balak said unto Balaam": This introduces Balak's direct verbal confrontation after his physical display of fury, marking a turning point where he no longer politely cajoles but openly expresses his outrage and dismisses Balaam.
• "I called thee": Balak emphasizes his initiative and the explicit contractual purpose of their encounter, highlighting his complete bewilderment at the reversed outcome. He brought Balaam with a clear mission.
• "to curse mine enemies": Hebrew: לִקֹּב אֹיְבַי (liqqōv 'oy'vay). Liqqōv (from נקב, naqav) means "to pierce, specify, denounce, or curse." This was Balak's singular, paramount request: the annihilation or weakening of Israel through powerful, ritualistic denouncement.
• "and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them": Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה בָּרַכְתָּ בָרֵךְ (v'hinneh barakhta barekh). V'hinneh (behold) draws attention to the astonishing and unexpected reality. The repetition of the verb barakh (to bless) as an infinitive absolute (barakhta barekh) serves as an intensifier, meaning "you have truly and emphatically blessed them." This highlights the total reversal of Balak's intention and the divine sovereignty that overrides human will. It's a statement of absolute contradiction to the original purpose.
• "these three times": Balak specifically mentions the number of failed attempts. This quantitative statement signifies Balak's growing desperation, his persistent efforts, and the cumulative nature of Balaam's frustrating compliance with God's word rather than Balak's. It underlines the final straw for Balak, leading to his furious outburst.

Numbers 24 10 Bonus section

• The frustration expressed by Balak points to the pagan belief that deities could be manipulated by the correct rituals or a powerful diviner, a concept powerfully refuted by Yahweh's unyielding control over Balaam.
• Despite Balaam's greedy motives (2 Pet 2:15-16, Jude 1:11), God used him as an unwitting channel for genuine divine prophecy, including prophecies that speak of the future "Star out of Jacob" and "Scepter out of Israel," interpreted as messianic prophecies pointing to Christ.
• Balak's outburst is the final breaking point, after which he effectively gives up trying to alter God's purpose through curses, though later he attempts a different strategy of enticing Israel into sin through pagan practices (Num 25:1-3, Rev 2:14).

Numbers 24 10 Commentary

Numbers 24:10 marks the boiling point of the confrontation between Balak and Balaam. It underscores the ultimate futility of opposing God's divine plan through human or even spiritual means, no matter how influential. Balak's rage, signified by the dramatic smiting of his hands, demonstrates the profound disappointment of one whose meticulously laid plans have been thoroughly thwarted by a superior, unchangeable power. Balaam's inability to curse highlights the absolute sovereignty of God: only what God ordains can come to pass. This powerful demonstration of God's control serves as a profound theological lesson that His promises and blessings upon His chosen people are unbreakable, transforming intended curses into further affirmations of His favor. It also foreshadows a pattern seen throughout biblical history, where divine protection consistently turns adversary's malice into instruments of God’s glory and Israel’s benefit.