Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

But I would not hearken unto Balaam,.... Who was very solicitous to get leave of the Lord to curse Israel, which he knew he could not do without; he had a goodwill to it but could not accomplish it:

therefore he blessed you still; went on blessing Israel to the last, when Balak hoped every time he would have cursed them; and Balaam himself was very desirous of doing it; but could not, being overruled by the Lord, and under his restraint; which shows his power over evil spirits, and their agents:

so I delivered you out of his hands: both out of the hand of Balak, who was intimidated from bringing his forces against them, and out of the hand of Balaam, who was not suffered to curse them.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

Unto Balaam — Who hereby appears to have desired of God leave to curse Israel; and therefore it is not strange, that God who permitted him simply to go, was highly angry with him for going with so wicked an intent, Numbers 22:20,22,32.

Delivered you — That is, from Balak's malicious design against you.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Joshua 24:10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

Ver. 10. Therefore he blessed you still] Though full sore against his mind, as loath to lose so fair a preferment; till at length he resolved to curse, whatever came of it, and therefore went not, as at other times, to his altar, but "set his face toward the wilderness." [Numbers 24:1-2] "Howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing," said that good Nehemiah. [Nehemiah 13:2]

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

I would not hearken unto Balaam, who hereby appears to have desired of God leave to curse Israel; and therefore it is not strange that God, who permitted him simply to go, was highly angry with him for going with so wicked an intent, Numbers 22:20,22,32.

Out of his hand, i.e. from Balak’s malicious design against you.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10.I delivered you out of his hand — Balak’s hand. He designed to harm by Balaam’s curses; but God, in a manner wholly miraculous, and not in harmony with his usual dealings with free agents, interposed, and changed his imprecations to benedictions. This constrained act did not keep Balaam from suffering a violent death while acting with the Midianites against Israel. Numbers 31:8.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 22:11,12,18-20,35; 23:3-12,15-26; 24:5-10; Isaiah 54:17