Matthew Poole and continuators on Micah 6:5

5 O my people remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted , and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal , that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD .

O Israel think well of it, what I did then, was worthy of a grateful remembrance to this day.

This man though a great, and warlike Prince, yet would not adventure by plain force to set upon Israel, he wisht their ruin, he contrived it, and had he succeeded in his first attempt to bring Israel under a curse; he was resolved next to attacque them by force.

A Man accounted to be a Prophet, and a holy man able to blast any by his curse, and able to advance any affairs by his blessing, but really he was a Soothsayer, and a man of pernicious Counsels.

Forced against his interest and inclinations to bless Israel. Deut. 23.4, 5. and Iosh. 24.10. and to confess he could▪ not prevail with God to curse Israel, so also remember how Balaam counselled Balak to draw your Fathers to sin, how this snare took, and how it cost twenty four thousand lives. The story at large you have, Numb. 22.23.24. and 25. chap.

This the place where Balak began by fair, but le[illegible: 1 letter]'d Women of Midian to debauch Israel as Balaam had counselled, and so continued to Gi[illegible: 1 letter]gal all along the borders of his Dominion, or else thus remember, O my people how I spared thee in the matter of Baal-Peor, for which thou deservedst to be destroyed at Shittim, remember also the mercies I gave under the conduct of Ioshua after Moses's his Death, which fell out whilest you abode at Shittim, Iosh. 3.1.

Where Israel first took possession of the promised Land, and saw visibly the faithfulness of their God.

The mercy, justice, uprightness, veracity as it signifies, but here it rather denotes the right on God's side in this Controversie with his people.

Marginal references: Rev. [illegible: 2 letters]; Jo[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 2 letters]