Numbers 22:31

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

²²Then God's anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the Angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in His hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path. ²⁴Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. ²⁵And the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her once again. ²⁶And the Angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. ²⁷When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff. ²⁸Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" ²⁹Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!" ³⁰But the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?" "No," he replied. ³¹Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in His hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

opened: Numbers 24:4, *marg. Numbers 24:16, Genesis 21:19, 2 Kings 6:17-20, 1 Chronicles 21:16, Luke 24:16, Luke 24:31, Acts 26:18

bowed down: Exodus 34:8, Psalms 9:20, John 18:6

fell flat on his face: or, bowed himself

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:3 - peradventure Numbers 24:3 - whose eyes are open hath said

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam,.... Who either was struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were, so some think, or rather his eyes were held, that he could not see the angel; he could see other objects, as his ass, but he could not see that; as Elisha's servant could see the host that compassed the city, but not the chariots and horses of fire about Elisha, till his eyes were opened, 2 Kings 6:15 and so it was with Balaam until the Lord uncovered his eyes, or rolled away the vail over them, or took that off which by his power and providence hindered his sight:

and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; in the same position as in Numbers 22:23

and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face; from off his ass upon the ground, in reverence of the illustrious object before him, and through fear of being slain by his sword in his hand.