Bible Commentaries

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

He went not as at other times. — As being resolved to curse howsoever, and without God’s leave; yea, al despito di Dio, as that mouth of blasphemy, Pope Julius III, once said in another case; Act. and Mon., fol. 1417. to take his own course whatever came of it.

He set his face. — As fully bent to do it, and nothing should hinder him. So our Saviour Christ "steadfastly set ( εστηριξε ) his face to go to Jerusalem." Luke 9:51 He steeled his forehead against all oppositions.

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And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

And the spirit of God came upon him. — A common spirit, a spirit of prophecy: "Have not we prophesied in thy name?," Matthew 7:22 said those castaways. In impiis quandoque sunt dona Dei, sine Deo. God gives gifts to men, "yea to the rebellious," Psalms 68:18 for the use of his Church. A blind man may bear a torch in his hand, whereby others may receive benefit, though himself receive none; so here.

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And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

Whose eyes are open. — And therefore can speak it of a certainty: for what is more sure than sight? q.d., Israel shall be blessed, and I will stand to it. He is blessed, "yea, and he shall be blessed." Genesis 27:33

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He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

Falling into a trance. — As was usual with the prophets; Genesis 15:12 Daniel 8:17-19 2 Peter 1:21 See Trapp on " 1 Peter 1:21 " They were carried out of and beyond themselves. And still -

“ Amor Dei est ecstaticus, neque iuris

Se sinit esse sui - ”

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How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!

How goodly are thy tents. — It fareth with a hypocrite, as with a surveyor of lands, that taketh an exact compass of other men’s grounds, of which he shall never enjoy a foot. See Numbers 23:10 .

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As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, [and] as cedar trees beside the waters.

As the trees of lign aloes. — An odoriferous sweet smelling tree, growing in Arabia, which is said to be a country so sweet that swine cannot live in it.

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He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

His seed shall be in many waters. — He shall sow in locis irriguis; as men are bid to cast their bread, their alms, upon the waters, upon the poor; as upon a well-watered soil. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Such is the land of Egypt, watered by Nile; which makes the ground so fruitful, that they do but throw in the seed, and have four rich harvests in less than four months, - saith one that had been there. Blunt’s Voyage into Levant.

He shall be higher than Agag. — King of the Amalekites, who was then the greatest monarch of those parts, and did haply think as highly of himself as that proud prince of Tyre, Ezekiel 28:2-6 or as the great Cham of Cataia, of whom it is reported that every day, after he had dined, he caused the trumpets to be sounded, by that sign giving leave to other princes of the earth to go to dinner.

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God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce [them] through with his arrows.

God brought him forth out of Egypt. — This he tells Balak, in answer to that complaint of his. Numbers 20:5 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, q.d., Come they are indeed, but not of themselves, but by God, who said, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

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