Numbers 22:7

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho. ²Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. ⁴So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, ⁵he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt," said Balak. "They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶So please come now and put a curse on these people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed." ⁷The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.⁸"Spend the night here," Balaam replied, "and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. ⁹Then God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" ¹⁰And Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rewards of divination: 1 Samuel 9:7, 1 Samuel 9:8, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Micah 3:11, Romans 16:18, 1 Timothy 6:9, 1 Timothy 6:10, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:4 - elders Numbers 22:15 - princes Numbers 22:19 - General Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they hired Judges 16:18 - brought money 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian 2 Kings 5:5 - and took Daniel 2:6 - ye shall Daniel 5:7 - be clothed Acts 1:18 - with

Cross-References

Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. Taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 22:2
"Take your son," God said, "your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you."

Genesis 22:4
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

Exodus 12:3
Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household.

Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will."

Matthew 26:42
A second time He went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done."

John 18:11
"Put your sword back in its sheath!" Jesus said to Peter. "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?"

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Midian, departed,.... By which it appears that they were princes and nobles; for such the elders were, that were sent on this errand to Balaam; and that they were some of both people, Midian and Moab, that went upon it, see

Numbers 22:14 which shows, that if they were not one people, under one king, which yet seems likely, nevertheless they made a common cause of it, and joined in this expedient to save their country:

with the rewards of divination in their hands; not that diviners were sent along with them to Balsam, as Aben Ezra interprets it, that he might not deceive them, and put them off, by saying it was not a fit and proper day or hour to go out and curse, which these men would be able to refute; but if they were skilled in the art of divination as well as he, what need was there to send to him, when they had such at hand? nor instruments of divination, as Jarchi, which so famous a soothsayer could not be thought to be without; but, as we rightly render it, the rewards of divination, which were either fixed or left to the generosity of those that had recourse to such persons, and were presents which they brought them, in order to engage them to use the utmost of their art for them; and this sense is confirmed by the Apostles Peter and Jude, see 2 Peter 2:15:

and they came unto Balaam; at Pethor:

and spake unto him the words of Balak: told him the errand they were sent on to him by the king of Moab.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rewards of divination - Rightly interpreted in 2 Peter 2:15 as “the wages of unrighteousness.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 22:7. The rewards of divination — Whoever went to consult a prophet took with him a present, as it was on such gratuitous offerings the prophets lived; but here more than a mere present is intended, perhaps every thing necessary to provide materials for the incantation. The drugs, c., used on such occasions were often very expensive. It appears that Balaam was very covetous, and that he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and probably lived by it see 2 Peter 2:15.