“And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.”
For among the Gentiles the kings oft times used to sacrifice, as did the Priests.
“And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.”
Cause that all may hate and detest them. Or, Syria. Or, prophecy.
“For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”
But shall have religion and laws apart.
“Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! me: Heb. my soul, or, my life”
The fear of God’s judgment caused him to wish to be joined to the household of Abraham: thus the wicked have their consciences wounded when they consider God’s judgments. The infinite multitude, as the dust of the earth.
“And he brought him into the field of Zophim , to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. Pisgah: or, the hill”
Or, into the field of them that spied: to wit, lest the enemy should approach.
“And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.”
Cross references: : Num. 22:35
“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”
God’s enemies are compelled to confess that his government is just, constant, and without change or repentance.
“He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”
They triumph as victorious kings over their enemies.
“Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! against: or, in”
Considering what God shall work this time for the deliverance of his people, all the world shall wonder.
“And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.”
Thus the wicked imagine of God, that that which he will not grant in one place, he will do it in another.