(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 22:36–41, “And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.”
Balak was very glad when he heard that Balaam had arrived. He was concerned about Israel and determined to do anything that he could to stop them before they could destroy his own kingdom and take his position and wealth away from him. However, Balak was a king and wasn’t used to people saying “No!” to him so he reprimanded Balaam for taking his time before coming. Perhaps Balak thought that Balaam was only trying to get more money out of him. After this they go down to business and Balak started by offering sacrifices of sheep and oxen. After that they came to the critical issue and Balak took Balaam to the top of hill so that he could see part of the Israeli nation. He was careful not to let him see the whole nation because Balaam might suggest that this was too great a task for him to perform. At that stage there were 601,730 men of fighting age in Israel (Num 26:51, “These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.”) If we include women and children then there would be at least 1.5 million people and they has stock with them as well. Cursing a group of people this large would be major task, even for a man of Balaam’s reputation.
No comments:
Post a Comment