John Calvin on Numbers 22:39-41

39. And Balaam went with Balak. Moses proceeds to relate how honorably and sumptuously Balaam was received. And first, he records that he was taken to the city of Huzoth; A. V., “Kirjath-huzoth.” Margin “a city of streets.” which some would understand as a proper name, others as a noun appellative. In whichever way you take it, it denotes the extent of the city, which was divided into various streets. Secondly, Moses tells us that an abundance of animals were slain in preparation for the feast, and that guests were invited to banquet with Balaam himself. “Et que Balaam a este accompagne de gens honorables;” and that Balaam was accompanied by persons of honor.— Fr. The object of all this is, that Balaam was enticed by blandishments, in order that he might be ashamed to refuse anything to so munificent a king, by whom he had been treated not merely in a friendly, but in a liberal manner; just as if Balaam stood in the place of God, or as if the grace of God Himself were marketable. At length Moses adds that Balaam was brought up into the high places of Baal, that from this elevation he might more conveniently see the camp of the people. Moses, however, says that he only saw the extreme part of the camp; because the whole country was mountainous, and the view was obstructed by distance; still, in my opinion, the sanctity of the spot was the reason why it was chosen by Balak. He, therefore, brought Balaam to a temple, as it were, in order the more to conciliate God’s favor. Hence, too, it is apparent that this impostor had no fixed or solid views with regard to the service of God, but that he worshipped idols promiscuously amongst the heathen, either because he was involved in the same superstitions, or because he made no difficulty in complying with any customs or rites, in order to curry favor. For there have always been Lat., “medii homines.” Fr., “des nageurs entre deux eaux; “swimmers between two waters. trimmers in the world, who for flattery’s sake have corrupted religion by various devices, and have mingled heaven with earth.

Numbers 23

Numbers 23:1-30

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

1. Et dixit Balaam ad Balac, AEdifica mihi hic septem altaria, appara quoque mihi hic septem juvencos, et septem arietes.

2. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken: and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.

2. Fecitque Balac quemadmodum dixerat Balaam, et obtulit Balac et Balaam juvencum et arietem in altari.

3. 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.

3. Tunc dixit Balaam ipsi Balac, Consiste juxta holocaustum tuum, et ibo si forte occurrat Jehova obviam mihi, et quicquid ostenderit mihi narrabo tibi. Abiit itaque in excelsum.

4. And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.

4. Et occurrit Deus ipsi Balaam, dixitque illi, Septem altaria disposui, et obtuli juvencum in quolibet altari.

5. And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

5. Posuit autem Jehova verbum in ore Balaam, dixitque illi, Revertere ad Balac, et sic loqueris.

6. And he returned unto him, and, Io, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the princes of Moab.

6. Et reversus est ad eum, et ecce, stabat juxta holocaustum suum, ipse et omnes principes Moab.

7. And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob; and come, defy Israel.

7. Assumpsitque parabolam suam, ac dixit, De Aram adduxit me Balac rex Moab, de montibus Orientis, dicendo, Veni, maledic mihi Jacob, et vent, detestare Israelem.

8. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

8. Cur maledicam, et non maledixit Deus? et cur detestabor eum quem non detestatus est Jehova?

9. For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

9. Siquidem de vertice petrarum videbo eum, et de collibus intuebor illum: ecce, populus confidenter habitabit, et inter gentes non reputabitur.

10. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

10. Quis numerabit pulverem in Jacob, ac numerabit quartam partem Israelis? Moriatur anima mea morte rectorum, et sit novissimum meum sieut ipsius.

11. And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.

11. Tunc dixit Balac ad Balaam, Quid fecisti mihi; ut malediceres inimicis meis, sumpsi to, et ecce, benedixisti benedicendo.

12. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?

12. Qui respondens dixit, Nonne quod posuerit Jehova in ore meo, id observabo ad loquendum?

13. And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse me them from thence.

13. Tunc dixit ad cum Balac: Veni obsecro mecum ad alterum locum, unde videas illum (tantummodo extremum ejus vidisti, et totum ipsum non vidisti) et ei maledic mihi inde.

14. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

14. Et tulit eum in locum sublimem, in verticem Pisgah: aedificavitque septem altaria et obtulit juvencum et arietem in altari.

15. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.

15. Dixit autem ad Balac, Consiste hic juxta holocaustum tuum, et ego occurram illic.

16. And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.

16. Occurtit vero Jehova ipsi Balaam, et posuit verbum in ore ejus, dixitque, Revertere ad Balac, et sic loqueris.

17. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken?

17. Venit itaque ad eum, et ecce, ille stabat juxta holocaustum suum, et principes Moab cum illo: cui dixit Balac, Quid loquutus est Jehova?

18. And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor.

18. Tunc assumpsit parabolam suam, et dixit, Surge Balac, et audi, ausculta verba mea, fili Sippor.

19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

19. Non est homo Deus, ut mentiatur, et filius hominis, ut poeniteat eum: ipsc dixit, et non faciet? Loquutus est, et non praestabit illud?

20. Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

20. Ecce ut benedicerem accepi: et benedixit benedictione, et non revocabo eam.

21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

21. Non aspexit iniquitatem in Jacob, nec vidit violentiam in Israel. Jehova Deus ejus est cum eo, et clangor regis in eo.

22. God brought them out of Egypt: he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

22. Deus eduxit eos ex AEgypto: sicut robur unicornis est el.

23. 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!

23. Non est augurium in Jacob, nec est divinatio in Israel: secundum hoc tempus dicetur de Jacob, et Israele, Quid operatus est Deus?

24. Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.

24. En populus tanquam leo surget, et tanquam leunculus elevabitur: non accubabit donec comederit praedam, et sanguinem occisorum biberit.

25. And Balak said unto Balaam,: Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

25. Dixit autem Balac ad Balaam Neque maledicas ei, neque benedicas.

26. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?

26. Cui respondit Balaam, dicens; Annon dixi tibi, quicquid dixerit Jehova id faciam?

27. And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.

27. Tunc dixit Balac ad Balaam, Veni agedum, ducam te ad locum alium, si forte inde placebit Deo ut maledicas ei mihi.

28. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

28. Sumpsit ergo Balac ipsum Balaam in verticem Peor qui respicit versus desertum (vel, Jesimon.)

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

29. Dixit autem Balaam ad Balac, AEdifica mihi hic septem altaria, et appara mihi hic septem juvencos, et septem arietes.

30. And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

30. Fecit itaque Balac quemadmodum dixerat Balaam, et obtulit juvencum et arietem in unoquoque altari.