Numbers 22:40

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

³⁶When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. ³⁷And he said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?" ³⁸"See, I have come to you," Balaam replied, "but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth." ³⁹So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. ⁴⁰Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.⁴¹The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Numbers 23:2, Numbers 23:14, Numbers 23:30, Genesis 31:54, Proverbs 1:16

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 48:35 - him that offereth

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Balak offered oxen and sheep,.... Or "slew" w them, either for sacrifice; and if so Balak was the sacrificer, as it was common for kings to be priests; and then Balaam, who was sent for, was the prophet, that was to observe and explain any omen at the time of sacrificing, as Calchas did, when the chiefs of Greece sacrificed x: or rather for a feast, as the following words seem to show; though it might be for both, it being usual, when sacrifices were offered to idols, to eat part of them in a festival way, in imitation of the peace offerings of the Jews, see Numbers 25:2:

and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him; either part of it to them, or he sent for them to come, and partake of the feast, he and the princes of Moab and Midian, that had been to fetch him, and still attended him; and this the king did in a way of rejoicing, being glad that Balaam was come, and as expressing his well pleasedness with the conduct of the princes, and their success, as well as to keep Balaam in high spirits, hoping to have his end answered by him.

w ויזבח "cuinque occidisset", V. L. x Homer. Iliad. 1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 22:40. And Balak offered oxen, &c. — This was to gain the favour of his gods, and perhaps to propitiate Jehovah, that the end for which he had sent for Balaam might be accomplished.