Numbers-Chapter-23

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Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Numbers Chapter 23”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:
In Numbers chapter 23, the focus shifts to the high places of Moab, where the tension peaks as King Balak attempts to compel Balaam to curse Israel, resulting in the first two powerful oracles. This narrative highlights the inability of external rituals to overturn a Divine decree, emphasizing the unwavering nature of
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God’s) blessing.

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Let us read Numbers Chapter 23, verses 1 to 30: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you will find my commentary for this study.

1 “And Balaam said unto Balak: ‘Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams’. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 And Balaam said unto Balak: ‘Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go; peradventure יְהוָה - the LORD will come to meet me; and whatsoever He showeth me I will tell thee’. And he went to a bare height. 4 And אֱלֹהִים - Elohim met Balaam; and he said unto Him: ‘I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar’. 5 And יְהוָה - the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said: ‘Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak’. 6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab7 And he took up his parable, and said: From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East: ‘Come, curse me Jacob, and come, execrate Israel’. 8 How shall I curse, whom אֱלֹהִים - Elohim hath not cursed? And how shall I execrate, whom יְהוָה - the LORD hath not execrated? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered the stock of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let mine end be like his! 11 And Balak said unto Balaam: ‘What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether’. 12 And he answered and said: ‘Must I not take heed to speak that which יְהוָה - the LORD putteth in my mouth?’ 13 And Balak said unto him: ‘Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse me them from thence’. 14 And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar. 15 And he said unto Balak: ‘Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I go toward a meeting yonder’. 16 And יְהוָה - the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said: ‘Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak’. 17 And he came to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him: ‘What hath יְהוָה - the LORD spoken?’ 18 And he took up his parable, and said: “Arise, Balak, and hear; give ear unto me, thou son of Zippor19 אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He hath said, will He not do it? or when He hath spoken, will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I am bidden to bless; and when He hath blessed, I cannot call it back. 21 None hath beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath one seen perverseness in Israel; אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the LORD his אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is with him, and the shouting for the King is among them. 22 אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who brought them forth out of Egypt is for them like the lofty horns of the wild-ox. 23 For there is no enchantment with Jacob, neither is there any divination with Israel; now is it said of Jacob and of Israel”: ‘What hath אֱלֹהִים - Elohim wrought!’ 24 Behold a people that riseth up as a lioness, and as a lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 25 And Balak said unto Balaam: ‘Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all’. 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak: ‘Told not I thee, saying: All that יְהוָה - the LORD speaketh, that I must do?’ 27 And Balak said unto Balaam: ‘Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please אֱלֹהִים - Elohim that thou mayest curse me them from thence’. 28 And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak: ‘Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams’. 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar”.

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Below is my Commentary on Numbers Chapter 23:

Verse 1-6: Balaam orders seven altars and sacrifices in a ritualistic attempt to invoke Divine favour.

Verse 7-10: The first oracle proclaims that no curse can overcome the people whom אֱלֹהִים - Elohim has blessed, highlighting Israel’s unique standing.

Verse 11-12: Balak expresses anger over the blessing, but Balaam insists he can only speak what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim puts in his mouth.

Verse 13-17: Hoping a different viewpoint will change the outcome, Balak moves Balaam to a new location for further sacrifices.

Verse 18-24: The second oracle reinforces אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s faithfulness, declaring that Divine protection makes Israel invincible to enchantment.

Verse 25-26: Frustrated by the continuous blessings, Balak commands Balaam to stop prophesying entirely.

Verse 27-30: The chapter concludes with a final attempt at a different location, emphasizing the futility of human efforts against divine will.

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My Closing Message:
This chapter underscores that true protection comes from a divine source, regardless of the opinions or actions of others. It illustrates that even when hidden spiritual battles rage, the blessing on
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s people remains secure and unchangeable.

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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