Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 22:22

22 And Gods anger was kindled because he went : and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him : now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him .

Either 1. Because he went of his own accord, with the Princes of Moab, and did not wait till thy came to call him, i. e. urged him to go, which was the sign and condition of Gods permission, ver. 20. but rather himself rose and called them, as it may seem from ver. 21. Or 2. Because those words ver. 20. did contain no approbation nor license, but a bare permission, and that in anger, as Balaam might easily have understood, if he had considered his own heart, or the circumstances of his concession. This was no more an approbation than that passage of Christ to Iudas, [illegible: 1 word] 13. 27. That thou doest, do quickly. Or 3. Because he went with ill design and desire to do contrary to what God had charged him, to wit, to curse the people, as plainly appears from the following story, and from Deut. 23. 5. For God hath been oft and justly angry with those who have done what God bad them, when they did it in evil manner, or for evil ends, as appears from Isa. 10. 6, 7. and many other place.

(i. e.) To oppose and terrifie, if not to kill him.

The rest of the company being probably gone before them. For in those antient times there was more of simplicity, and less of ceremony, and therefore it is not strange that Balaam came at some distance, after the rest, and attended onely by his own servants.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word].