Bibelkommentare

And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

In the plains of Moab. — Once of Moab, then of the Amorites, now of the Israelites. Lands and lordships often change masters; Adeo nihil certi est in rebus humanis, … In the greatness of the Turkish empire is at this day swallowed up the name and empire of the Saracens, the most glorious empire of the Greeks, the renowned kingdoms of Macedonia, Peloponnesus, Epirus, Bulgaria, Servia, Bosnia, Armenia, Cyprus, Syria, Egypt, Judea, Tunis, Algiers, Media, Mesopotamia, with a great part of Hungary, as also of the Persian kingdom, and, besides all those famous Churches spoken of in Scripture, so much in Christendom, as far exceedeth that which is thereof at this day left; yet, no doubt, time shall triumph over this so great a monarchy, when it shall but then live by fame as others now do. Turk. Hist., Preface. It laboureth with nothing more already than with the weightiness of itself.

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And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

And Moab was distressed. — Or, Was irked, fretted, vexed. And yet Moab was allied to Israel, eased by them of a troublesome encroaching neighbour Sihon, and assured by them, that they would not meddle or molest them. But being of a different religion, they were carried with satanical malice against God’s people, and sought their ruin. This is the guise of graceless and absurd men, acted and agitated by the devil.

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And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.

Unto the elders of Midian. — Their neighbours and confederates. These are called the dukes of Sihon, as having been subdued by his tyranny, whereof Israel had now freed them, and meant them no hurt. Numbers 31:8 Joshua 13:21

And Balak the son of Zippor. — A politic and potent prince, Micah 6:5 not more valiant than vigilant, ingeniose nequam, wittily wicked.

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He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

Balaam, the son of Beor. — The devil’s spelman, as one calls him, a soothsayer, or sorcerer, called a prophet, 2 Peter 2:16 as false prophets are called diviners Jeremiah 27:9

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Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

Peradventure I shall prevail. — Hence he is said to have warred against Israel. Joshua 24:9 He did not, because he durst not. Sed fieri dicitur, quod tentatur, aut intenditur, saith Ribera on Amos 9:5 .

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And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

With the rewards of divination. — Which Jude calls the wages of wickedness. Judges 1:11 2 Peter 2:15 The Athenians complained, that Philip by his gold had corrupted the oracle of Apollo, which now did φιλιππιζειν .

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And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

As the Lord shall speak unto me. — Good words and wishes may be found in hell’s mouth; as wholesome sugar may be found in a poisoned cane, and a stone of great virtue in the head of a toad. The French have a berry which they name Uve de spine, the grape of a thorn.

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And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?

And God came to Balaam. — So he came to Abimelech, to Laban, … He never credited his word to these, as he did to the holy prophets, of whom it is said, "The word of the Lord came to them."

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