Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 22:4

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian : Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us , as the oxe licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was King of the Moabites at that time.

Called the Kings of Midian, Numb. 31. 8. and Princes of Midian, Ios. 13. 21, who though divided in their Kingdomes, yet were now united upon the approach of the Israelites their common enemy, and, being, as it seems, a potent and crafty people, and neighbours to the Moabites, these seek confederacy with them. We read of Midianites near mount Sinai, Exod. 2. and 3. which seem to have been a part or colony of this people that went out to seek new quarters, as the manner of those times was, b[illegible: 1+ letters]t the body of that people were seated in those parts, as is evident from many Scriptures.

(i. e.) Consume and utterly destroy, in which sense the fire is said to lick up the water and sacrifices, 1 King. 18. 38. The meaning is, we can expect no mercy from them, they will utterly root us out as they did the Amorites, if we do not make a stout and timely opposition.

(i. e.) All our people, who lived in the Countrey and Territory adjoyning to each City, where the Princes resided.