Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Peter 2:15

15 Which have forsaken the right way , and are gone astray , following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor , who loved the wages of unrighteousness :

The way of Truth, v. 2. i e. the way of Faith and Holiness, which is the only right way to Happiness.

Into the Bypaths of Error. There is but one right way, and many wrong, in which they wander that leave the right. He seems to allude to Balaam, Num. 22. who left the way of God, which was to be obedient to God, and not go beyond his Word, v. 18. and ran into the way of Sin, when he went with [illegible: 1 word] Messengers to curse God's People; and therefore his way is said to be perverse, v. 32.

1. In respect of their false Doctrine i[illegible: 1 letter]for, as Balaam was Disobedient to God, and against his Command, went to Balak; so these Men forsook the way of Truth prescribed by God in his Word. 2. In respect of their wicked Lives. Balaam taught Balak to entice the Children of Israel to commit Fornication, and eat things sacrificed unto Idols, Rev. 2.14. and these taught Men to commit Lewdness, and indulge themselves in their Sensualities. 3. Chiefly in respect of their Covetousness, as follows.

Either this is the Name of his Country called Pethor, Num. 22.5. and by change of two Letters, P into B, and Th into s, (frequent in the Syriack Language) Besor, or Bosor: Or, the Name of his Father, called Beor, in Numb. having two Names, unless the Apostle call him Bosor in allusion to Basar, Flesh, as being of a fleshly Mind, as the false Teachers here were. Thus Bethel was called Bethaven, Hos. 4.15. and Beelzebub called Beelzebul, the God of Dang, Matth. 10.25.

The Reward which Balak offered him for an unrighteous act, viz. the cursing of God's People.

Marginal references: Jude 11.