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Selected Verse: Numbers 23:1 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Nu 23:1 |
Strong Concordance |
And Balaam [01109] said [0559] unto Balak [01111], Build [01129] me here seven [07651] altars [04196], and prepare [03559] me here seven [07651] oxen [06499] and seven [07651] rams [0352]. |
| |
King James |
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
BALAK'S SACRIFICES. (Num. 23:1-30)
Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars--Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from Num 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (Kg2 18:22; Isa 17:8; Jer 11:13; Hos 8:11; Hos 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions with the divine worship. The heathen, both in ancient and modern times, attached a mysterious virtue to the number seven; and Balaam, in ordering the preparation of so many altars, designed to mystify and delude the king. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Balaam, after the general custom of the pagan, prefaced his divinations by sacrifice. In the number of the altars regard was probably had to the number of the then known planets. Yet Balaam evidently intended his sacrifice as an offering to the true God. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| Balaam's First Words. - Num 23:1-3. Preparations for the first act, which was performed at Bamoth-baal. At Balaam's command Balak built seven altars, and then selected seven bullocks and seven rams, which they immediately sacrificed, namely, one bullock and one ram upon each altar. The nations of antiquity generally accompanied all their more important undertakings with sacrifices, to make sure of the protection and help of the gods; but this was especially the case with their ceremonies of adjuration. According to Diod. Sic. ii. 29, the Chaldeans sought to avert calamity and secure prosperity by sacrifices and adjurations. The same thing is also related of other nations (see Hengstenberg, Balaam, p. 392). Accordingly, Balaam also did everything that appeared necessary, according to his own religious notions, to ensure the success of Balak's undertaking, and bring about the desired result. The erection of seven altars, and the sacrifice of seven animals of each kind, are to be explained from the sacredness acquired by this number, through the creation of the world in seven days, as being the stamp of work that was well-pleasing to God. The sacrifices were burnt-offerings, and were offered by themselves to Jehovah, whom Balaam acknowledged as his God. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Build seven altars - To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God, as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he doth, Num 23:4. And though Balak was averse from God and his worship, yet he would be easily overruled by Balaam, who doubtless told him that it was in vain to make an address to any other than the God of Israel, who alone was able either to bless or curse them as he pleased. Seven - This being the solemn and usual number in sacrifices. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Build me here seven altars, etc. - The oxen and the rams were such as the Mosaic law had ordered to be offered to God in sacrifice; the building of seven altars was not commanded. Some think that these seven altars were built to the seven planets: this is most gratuitously said; of it there is no proof whatever; it is mere trifling, even with conjecture. As seven was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice, and to offer a bullock and a ram upon each of the altars; the whole to be made a burnt-offering at the same time. And as he intended to offer seven bullocks and seven rams at the same time, it could not be conveniently done on one altar, therefore he ordered seven to be built. We need go no farther to find out his reasons. |
1 Israel [03478] is an empty [01238] vine [01612], he bringeth forth [07737] fruit [06529] unto himself: according to the multitude [07230] of his fruit [06529] he hath increased [07235] the altars [04196]; according to the goodness [02896] of his land [0776] they have made goodly [02895] images [04676].
11 Because Ephraim [0669] hath made many [07235] altars [04196] to sin [02398], altars [04196] shall be unto him to sin [02398].
13 For according to the number [04557] of thy cities [05892] were thy gods [0430], O Judah [03063]; and according to the number [04557] of the streets [02351] of Jerusalem [03389] have ye set up [07760] altars [04196] to that shameful thing [01322], even altars [04196] to burn incense [06999] unto Baal [01168].
8 And he shall not look [08159] to the altars [04196], the work [04639] of his hands [03027], neither shall respect [07200] that which his fingers [0676] have made [06213], either the groves [0842], or the images [02553].
22 But if ye say [0559] unto me, We trust [0982] in the LORD [03068] our God [0430]: is not that he, whose high places [01116] and whose altars [04196] Hezekiah [02396] hath taken away [05493], and hath said [0559] to Judah [03063] and Jerusalem [03389], Ye shall worship [07812] before [06440] this altar [04196] in Jerusalem [03389]?
4 And God [0430] met [07136] Balaam [01109]: and he said [0559] unto him, I have prepared [06186] seven [07651] altars [04196], and I have offered [05927] upon every altar [04196] a bullock [06499] and a ram [0352].
1 And Balaam [01109] said [0559] unto Balak [01111], Build [01129] me here seven [07651] altars [04196], and prepare [03559] me here seven [07651] oxen [06499] and seven [07651] rams [0352].
2 And Balak [01111] did [06213] as Balaam [01109] had spoken [01696]; and Balak [01111] and Balaam [01109] offered [05927] on every altar [04196] a bullock [06499] and a ram [0352].
3 And Balaam [01109] said [0559] unto Balak [01111], Stand [03320] by thy burnt offering [05930], and I will go [03212]: peradventure the LORD [03068] will come [07136] to meet [07125] me: and whatsoever [01697] he sheweth [07200] me I will tell [05046] thee. And he went [03212] to an high place [08205].
4 And God [0430] met [07136] Balaam [01109]: and he said [0559] unto him, I have prepared [06186] seven [07651] altars [04196], and I have offered [05927] upon every altar [04196] a bullock [06499] and a ram [0352].