Numbers 23:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Numbers 23:1

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, ^a“Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

2 And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam ^aoffered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, ^a“Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the Lord will come ^bto meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a desolate height.

4 ^aAnd God met Balaam, and he said to Him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”

5 Then the Lord ^aput a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”

6 So he returned to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

7 And he ^atook up his oracle and said:
“Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram,
From the mountains of the east.
^b‘Come, curse Jacob for me,
And come, ^cdenounce Israel!’

8 “How^a shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him,
And from the hills I behold him;
There! ^aA people dwelling alone,
^bNot reckoning itself among the nations.

10 “Who^a can count the dust of Jacob,
Or number one-fourth of Israel?
Let me die ^bthe death of the righteous,
And let my end be like his!”

11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? ^aI took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!”

12 So he answered and said, ^a“Must I not take heed to speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?”

Verse Comparison: Numbers 23:1

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American Standard Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Amplified® Bible
AND BALAAM said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

Contemporary English Version
Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here, then bring seven bulls and seven rams."

Darby English Version
And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.

Good News Bible
He said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

King James Version
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

New American Standard Bible
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

New International Version
Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

New King James Version
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

Revised Standard Version
And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and provide for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

Young's Literal Translation
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Build for me in this `place' seven altars, and make ready for me in this `place' seven bullocks and seven rams.'

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