God Uses a Donkey to Talk to Balaam

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(Numbers 22:1) And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side of the Jordan by Jericho.

In the last chapter, the Israelites had just conquered Og king of Bashan, and they now moved from Bashan and camped in the plains of Moab on their side of the Jordan across from Jericho.

As I follow a chronological Bible study, the order of which was designed by Skip Andrews, I now go to Numbers 33:

(Numbers 33:48) And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

Numbers 33, which chronicles Israel's journeys and camp stations, stated they left the mountains of Abarim where they had conquered Heshbon and Bashan, and also stated they camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

(49) And they pitched by the Jordan, from Beth Jesimoth as far as the Abel-Shittim, in the plains of Moab.

They camped by the Jordan in an area that stretched from Beth Jesimoth to Abel-Shittim, as their campsites surely had to be very large or very long in this case, as they camped along the Jordan River in the plains of Moab across from Jericho.

(Numbers 22:2) And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Balak, the son of Zippor, who we will see was the king of Moab at that time, had witnessed all that Israel had done in conquering the Amorites and seizing their lands.

(3) And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

The king of Moab was very afraid of the Israelites because of what they had done to Sihon and Og (Num. 21) and because they were so many in number.  He was very distressed about the children of Israel.

(4) And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

Balak, the king of Moab, consulted with the elders of Midian, who were his neighbors, surely hoping that united they might be able to do something about Israel.  In his plea to the Midianites, he explained that the Israelites would surely consume them all.

(5) He sent messengers therefore to 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 across from me."

Balak sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which was by the river of the land of his people, that is the Euphrates.  His message told of a people who came out of Egypt and seemed to cover the face of the earth, because of their number and recent conquests.  He explained that group now dwelt across from him.

(6) "Come now therefore, please, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me; perhaps I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Balak asked that Balaam come to his country and curse the Israelites for him.  Balaam is believed to have once been a prophet of the true God, but appears here to perhaps have added sorcery to his prophetic gift.  Balak acknowledged that the Israelites were too mighty for him, but if Balaam cursed them, perhaps he would prevail to destroy them and drive them out of his land.  Balak acknowledged that he knew that whoever Balaam blessed was indeed blessed, and whoever he cursed was cursed, which makes it plausible that Balaam may have sought the Lord in those instances.

(7) And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards for divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went to Balaam directly to speak to him the words of Balak, carrying with them the rewards for divination, which probably meant gifts or payment to him to curse the Israelites.

(8) And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

Balaam told the princes or elders of the Moabites and of Midian to stay with him that night, and he would bring them back word from the Lord.  They did as he asked and lodged with him.

(9) And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

God indeed did speak to Balaam, and asked about the men who were with him.  These two verses show Balaam must have surely known the true God and had been in the habit of seeking Him and hearing Him.  Obviously, God knew who the men were and what they wanted, but He asked this for Balaam's benefit, as it would try his fidelity and convict him of his folly and sin as we shall soon see.

(10) And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, (11) ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth; come now, curse them for me and perhaps I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.'"

Balaam answered God and told him that Balak, king of Moab, had sent messengers to him telling him about the Israelites who had come out of Egypt and covered the face of the earth, and asking him to curse them so that he might overcome them and drive them out of his land.

(12) And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Gold told Balaam not to go with these people and not to curse the Israelites because they were blessed.

(13) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Get back to your land, for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you."

Balaam rose up in the morning and gave the princes of Balak God's instructions, or part of them.  He told them to go back to their land for the Lord had refused to give him permission to go with them to curse Israel.  Actually, Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, pointed out that Balaam didn't actually tell them they were not to curse Israel because Israel was blessed.  He suggested that had Balaam told them all, perhaps it would have prevented further solicitation, as we shall soon see does occur.

(14) And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

The princes of Moab returned to Balak and told him that Balaam refused to come back with them.  Dr. Gill rightly noted that the princes came back with even less information than they were given:  they simply said that Balaam refused to come with them, not that the Lord had refused to give him permission to go.  Obviously, the word of the Lord didn't seem to be important in the eyes of these Moabites.  However, knowing it was the word of the Lord that prevented Balaam from coming to Balak, might have prevented him from pressing further.

(15) And Balak sent yet again princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.

Balak sent back to Balaam more numerous and more honorable princes, perhaps assuming Balaam had felt he had not been treated with enough respect.

(16) And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; (17) For I will promote you to very great honor, and I will do whatever you say to me; come therefore, please, curse this people for me.’”

The second group of princes went to Balaam and gave him the words of Balak, their king.  He asked that he let nothing hinder him from coming, and assured him he would be rewarded with great honor and anything for which he asked, if he would come and curse the Israelites for him.  Balak obviously thought that Balaam refused of his own accord because he had not been properly rewarded for his services.  Had he known it was the Lord God who refused to let him go and had told him not to curse the Israelites because they were blessed, perhaps he would have never sent this second group.

(18) And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more."

Balaam answered well and spoke reverently of the Lord in his answer to this second group of princes.  Balak could give him all his riches, and he still would not go beyond the word of His Lord.

(19) “Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”

Even though he had spoken so well at first, he now suggested they stay with him another night and he would inquire further of the Lord.  This shows at least some slight aversion to what God had told him, that he would like to oblige them, because already knowing God's definite answer to this, he would ask again.  Why would God now reverse His opinion of the Israelites and tell him He unblessed them and to go ahead and curse them?

(20) And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.”

God came to Balaam in the night and told him to go with the men if they came to call on him, but to only speak the word that God gave him to speak.  Dr. John Gill wrote that some people thought that this was said sarcastically.  I don't believe our Lord is sarcastic, but we have free will, and He will allow us to do what we want.  If we pray to the Lord and don't like His answer, He doesn't prevent us from going against Him, but be assured His will shall be done.

(21) And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam rose up the next morning, saddled his donkey, and indeed did go with the princes of Moab.

(22) And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

God had previously made His will known to Balaam; just because He allowed him free will and permitted him to go did not change the original fact that Balaam had disobeyed God and had chosen his own path to benefit himself.  As stated before, God's will shall be done.  The angel of the Lord stood in Balaam's way.  The original Hebrew word for "angel" here was "malak" and meant "messenger" or "representative".  This was a God-authorized representative for Him sent as His messenger to Balaam.  Balaam was riding his donkey and had two servants with him when the angel of the Lord stood in his way.  He stood as an adversary against him, an enemy against the sin Balaam was committing.

(23) And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her back onto the way.

The donkey could see what Balaam in his covetousness and self-will could not see--the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn.  The donkey turned out of the way of the angel and went into the field.  Balaam struck the donkey to get her back onto the road.

(24) But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side, and a wall on that side.

When she went into the field, the donkey apparently went onto a narrow path between two vineyards which both had walls, and now the angel of the Lord stood in this path to prevent them from proceeding further.

(25) And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he struck her.

When the donkey again saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, she thrust herself against one of the walls in order to avoid running straight into the angel.  In doing so, she crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he struck her again.

(26) And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

The angel moved further ahead into a narrower place where there was no possible way to turn to the right or left or around.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, referenced Henry Ainsworth, an earlier Hebrew scholar, who suggested this was an illustration of just how God might deal with all sinners:  "First he mildly shakes his rod at them but lets them go untouched. Secondly he comes nearer and touches them with an easy correction as it were wringing their foot against the wall. Thirdly, when all this is ineffectual, he brings them into such straits, that they can neither turn to the right hand nor to the left, but must fall before his judgments, if they do not fully turn to him."

(27) And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with a staff.

When the donkey again saw the angel of the Lord in the way, where there was no way for her to go but forward, she dropped to the ground under Balaam.  Balaam was so angered, he then struck his donkey with his staff.  You would think that one who presumably had been a prophet of God would have understood or at least would have been cautioned by these signs, but no, his heart was set on his self-serving task, and he beat his donkey with a staff.

(28) And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey and allowed her to speak to Balaam in words he would understand, since he was unable to see otherwise.  The donkey spoke to Balaam and asked what was it she had done to him that provoked him to strike her those three times. 

(29) And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me; I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”

It amazes me that Balaam took this in stride as if it was quite natural for this donkey to talk to him, and answered her saying it was because she "mocked" him and he wished he had a sword for then he would have killed her!  The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:27, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."  What more foolish thing was there than a dumb donkey to dumbfound Balaam?  Yet he still did not seem to appreciate this miraculous event for what it was.  Perhaps Balaam was accustomed to conversing with evil spirits through various creatures in his sorcery, or perhaps he was just blinded by his own greed and passion and now rage that he could not comprehend what an extraordinary event this really was.

(30) And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”

Miraculously, the donkey answered Balaam, understanding what he had said to her, and she reasoned with him, that she had always been his good and faithful donkey and had never done such a thing before.  Balaam agreed.

(31) Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

It was at this point, perhaps because he had calmed down and his hard heart could now comprehend, that God opened Balaam's eyes and he was able to see the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn.  Balaam then bowed down his head and fell on his face before the angel, realizing this was certainly a messenger from God Himself.

(32) And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me."

The angel of the Lord rebuked Balaam for striking his donkey as it was obviously not her fault as He had stood in the way against Balaam because his way was perverse before the Lord.

(33) “The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times; unless she had turned from Me, surely I would also have slain you by now, and let her live.”

The angel of the Lord told Balaam that the donkey had seen Him all those three times.  If it had not been for her turning aside and falling down, the angel would have killed Balaam, and let the donkey live.

(34) And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.”

Balaam acknowledged his sin to the angel of the Lord, saying he did not realize He had stood in the way against him.  Now that he understood it displeased Him, he said he would turn back.

(35) And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

The angel of the Lord told Balaam to go ahead with the men, but that he was only to tell them what the Lord told him to tell them.  This was what God had told Balaam in verse 20 when he had persisted in asking if he might go with the men.  However, it was necessary that the Lord get Balaam's full attention by the angel that stood in his way, so that he would indeed tell the men exactly all the Lord told him to say this time.  He had left out the most important parts before (v. 13).

(36) And when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab which is on the border of Arnon, which is on the utmost coast.

When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him in a city of Moab that was on the border of the Arnon River which was at the uttermost border of Moab.  A king coming out himself to his uttermost border to meet Balaam showed great respect for him.

(37) And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not indeed able to promote you to honor?"

Upon meeting him, Balak asked Balaam why he did not come to him when he first had so earnestly called for him.  Had Balaam doubted that Balak could richly reward him with honor and riches?

(38) And Balaam said to Balak, “Lo, I have come to you; have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”

Balaam answered Balak that he had now come, but he seemed to suggest that he didn't before because he was under the restraint of the Lord and even though he was there now, he would only speak the words the Lord Himself put in his mouth.

(39) And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth.

Balaam went with Balak to Kirjath Huzoth, which literally means "city of streets"; it was probably a large populous city.

(40) And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him.

Balak made an offering of oxen and sheep, and either sent for Balaam and his princes to join in the feast, or sent some of the offering to them.

(41) And it came to pass on the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might see the utmost of the people.

The next day Balak took Balaam up to the high places of Baal, probably meaning holy places of worship to their idol Baal, but also literally high so that Balaam got a good view of the edge of the encampment of the Israelites.  And there is a perfect place for a cliffhanger!  The rest of the story will be told in the next chapter and post.