1And 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.
Linguistic Insight
Tap any underlined word in the verse to see its original meaning.
Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 1-9)The blessing itself which Balaam here pronounces upon Israel is much the same with the two we had in the foregoing chapter; but the introduction to it is different. I. The method of proceeding here varies much in several instances. 1. Balaam laid aside the enchantments which he had hitherto depended on, used no spells, or charms, or magic arts, finding they did him no service; it was to no purpose…
My Notes
Notes are saved on this device.