Numbers 25-27 Phinehas and Joshua

Numbers 25-27 Phinehas and Joshua

Psalm 25:1-13 Guided from Goofing up to God's Goodness

Ps 25:1 “To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul. 2 My God, I have trusted in you. Don't let me be shamed. Don't let my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long. 6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. 7 Don't remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your hesed/loyal love, for your goodness' sake, Yahweh. 8 Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. 10 All the paths of Yahweh are hesed/loyal love and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For your name's sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. 12 What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease. His seed shall inherit the land. 14 The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant/loyalty. 

Observations: 25:1-2 David is praying because he's sinned and suffering shameful consequences (25:18)

25:4-8 The smart sinner asks God to guide them so they don't make the same stupid mistakes.

25:8-13 David appeals to God's character and hesed for pardon and promised blessing, noting that humble fear of God opens the door to goodness regardless of great sin.

25:14 The rest of the Psalm is covered under Luke 8-10, but this verse is worth noting here. Fearing God is being careful to do what is right in His sight, because you know there are unpleasant consequences for displeasing disobedience (as the OT makes abundantly clear for those with eyes to see). 

Application: When you're off the path and in the swamp, humbly seek and accept God's solutions to stay on the path: forgiveness and truth.

Prayer: Good and Gracious God, I praise You for being a God who pardons. Forgive me for straying and guide me in Your Truth. Amen.

Proverbs 7:1-5 What's on Your Heart and in Your Eye?

7:1 “My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative, 5 that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.”

Observation: In the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33) God writes His law on one's heart. Here we have the responsibility to do the writing. Note the benefit of embracing the right objectives and the right means of attaining them (Wisdom), a value transformation that vaccinates you against unfaithfulness to God.

Application: How do you write God's word on your heart? How have your values changed as a result? Hint: Psalm 119:9-11

Prayer: Holy God, Your desire is for me to be holy as You are Holy, show me how to incorporate Your Word in every aspect of my life. Amen.

Numbers 25-27

Numbers 25 Phinehas Stops the Plague

25:1 Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab: 2 who invited them to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 3 Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel. 4 Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and kill and expose them to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel." 5 Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Kill everyone who joined themselves to Baal-peor." 6 One of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped. 9 Those who died by the plague were 24,000. 10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 11 "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was zealous for My honor among them, so that I didn`t consume the children of Israel in My jealousy. 12 Therefore say, "Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace: 13 and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel."" 14 Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain was Zimri, the son Salu, a prince among the Simeonites. 15 The name of the Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of a leader in Midian. 16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Afflict the Midianites, and strike them; 18 for they afflicted you with their deceit, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor,"

Observations: 25:1 Shittim is sometimes translated as Acacias Grove, the place where Israel was told to get the wood for the Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle. Groves of trees were favorite spots for pagan worship because of the fertility implications.

The Moabites were descended from the eldest son of Lot. The Midianites (descended from the fourth son of Abraham thru Keturah) had joined with the Amorites to hire Balaam to curse Israel. Unable to go against God's command to bless Israel, Balaam counseled spiritual seduction of Israel through sexual worship of Baal.

Num 31:16 Behold, these (women) caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh. Revelations 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

25:3 Baal is a Semitic/Mesopotamian word for lord or master. It can refer to humans, but when applied to deities it usually refers to a localized/territorial demon, worshiped by the pagans. Peor means cleft or gap and was the mountain from which Balaam tried to curse Israel. Baal-peor was worshiped in abominable orgiastic rituals that the Scriptures hint at (Ps 106:28; Hosea 9:10) and secular and rabbinic sources detail. See Leviticus 1-7 post under Digging Deeper for more on pagan vs. Yahweh worship. God raised up the Israelites to judge idolaters (Gen 15).

25:12 Phinehas gets peace (“life is good”) as a covenantal blessing for his service to God and Israel.

25:14 Eleazar probably learned something from the failure of the Genesis generation to train his kids, and produced Phinehas. Salu, following in the steps of his ancestor Simeon, didn't teach Zimri self-control, and that led to Zimri's destruction.

25:17 Now God orders the payback on Midian, which gets carried out in Numbers 31, with Phinehas leading the charge.

Application: Immorality and unfaithfulness lead to punishment; zeal for God's reputation and hatred of sin leads to permanent peace.

Prayer: Lord, You are the True God, above all others, may I be zealous for Your reputation, regardless of the consequences. Amen.

Chapter 26 Surviors, the Wilderness

26:1 It happened after the plague, that Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers` houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel." 9 Dathan and Abiram, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Yahweh, 10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign. 51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty. 52 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 53 "To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance: to everyone according to those who were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given. 56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer."

57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites...61 Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh. 62 Those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel. 64 But among these there was not a man of them who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For Yahweh had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." There was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Observations: The second census (for the purpose of dividing the land inheritances) gives reminders of a couple of noteworthy rebellions against Yahweh's word, and ends with the fulfillment of God's promise to have the generation die in the desert, with the exceptions of Caleb and Joshua.

26:51 Simeon was the biggest loser: down 37,100; Manassah, who was the smallest in the last census, the biggest gainer, up 20,900; Judah still the largest, gaining only 1,900. Levites gained an even 1,000. Overall the nation lost 1,820 from the last census.

Application: The herd is usually headed to slaughter, so it's worth departing from it to follow God.

Prayer: God Who Keeps His Promises, may I always trust and obey You, even if no one else does. Amen.

Chapter 27 Getting and Losing Inheritance

27:1 The daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 "Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father." 5 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh. 6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 7 "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father`s brothers; and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 If he have no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he have no brothers...kinsman..."

12 Yahweh said to Moses, "Get up to the mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because you rebelled against My word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes." 
16 "Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd." 18 Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 You shall put of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation." 22 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 and he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.

Observations: 27:5 Moses' immediate response is to seek God's instructions; and God establishes female inheritance rights.

27:14 Moses loses the right to enter the Promised Land because he struck, rather than spoke to the rock. However he does get to see it. Note that God continued to use him to lead His people, even though he lost out on some of His future blessing.

27:18 Joshua is chosen by God to shepherd His people. Note that the Spirit was already upon Joshua, and he was subject to Eleazar's inquiry using the Urmin in the high priest's breastplate.

Application: Sin, even though forgiven, has negative aftereffects. No exceptions.

Prayer: Holy God, may I always take You at Your word, and obey Your word, without doubting. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God clearly doesn't like rivals, and will destroy the unfaithful, immediately, or over time. He desires Spirit-controlled leaders, holds them to the highest standard, and gives them the consequence of their sin. He rewards those who have on their heart what's on His heart, His reputation/glory, and the welfare of His people. God cares about the rights, inheritance, and shepherding of all His people.

Us in a nutshell: We are easily seduced away from God when we have the wrong values and character (no self-control). When we chose to do what the pagans do, we reap loss and regret; when we chose to be loyal to Him we reap great reward.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Numbers complete text

Chapter 25

25:1 Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab: 2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 3 Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel. 4 Yahweh said to Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel. 5 Moses said to the judges of Israel, Kill you everyone his men who have joined themselves to Baal-peor. 6 Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. 10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn`t consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace: 13 and it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel. 14 Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers` house among the Simeonites. 15 The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers` house in Midian. 16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 17 Vex the Midianites, and strike them; 18 for they vex you with their wiles, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.

Chapter 26

26:1 It happened after the plague, that Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers` houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel. 3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 4 [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt. 5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: [of] Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; 6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty. 8 The sons of Pallu: Eliab. 9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Yahweh, 10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign. 11 Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn`t die. 12 The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; 13 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred. 15 The sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred. 19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. 21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred. 23 The sons of Issachar after their families: [of] Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites; 24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred. 26 The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, sixty thousand five hundred. 28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: [of] Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 and [of] Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and [of] Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 and [of] Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and [of] Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred. 35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families. 38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: [of Ard], the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred. 42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred. 44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred. 48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred. 51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty. 52 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 53 To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance: to everyone according to those who were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given. 55 Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer. 57 These are those who were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram. 59 The name of Amram`s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. 60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh. 62 Those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel. 63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of them who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For Yahweh had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. There was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Chapter 27

27:1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 They stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father. 5 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh. 6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father`s brothers; and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 If he have no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he have no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father`s brothers. 11 If his father have no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be to the children of Israel a statute [and] ordinance, as Yahweh commanded Moses. 12 Yahweh said to Moses, Get you up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) 15 Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying, 16 Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd. 18 Yahweh said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 You shall put of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 and he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.

Numbers 21-24 Fiery Serpents and a Talking Donkey

Numbers 21-24 Fiery Serpents and a Talking Donkey

Psalm 24:7-10

Dwelling with the King of Glory

Ps 24:7 (1 The earth is Yahweh's...3 Who may ascend to Yahweh’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation.)

“7 Lift up your heads, you gates! Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? Yahweh of Hosts/Armies is the King of glory! Selah."

Observations: 24:1-6 See post on Exodus 19 for vv 1-6, in which David describes the person who can stand in God's presence and be blessed by Him (clean hands, pure heart, holy speech).

24:7-10 The first two verses of the psalm establish that God owns the earth and all people; 3-6 specify who may dwell on God's hill in His presence (note particularly those who have not lifted up their soul to falsehood). The final section describes the King of Glory coming to His holy hill. Many consider this to have been written for when the ark was brought back to Jerusalem (1Chron 15), but it may also have a prophetic Millennial kingdom aspect as well (in light of the everlasting doors, and the military victories). The gates are personified, as are the doors. Gates might be put for those who sit in them, i.e., the elders/leaders, and the doors for those who tend them, i.e., the priests (everlasting perhaps put for the everlasting/salt covenant of priesthood). As the person who can dwell in God's presence can not have lifted up their soul to falsehood/disloyalty, so the leaders must be those who lift up themselves/heads to the King of Glory (as in look expectantly in hope and devote oneself to Him). It would fit the paradigm of Ezekiel 43 well, that only those permanently loyal to God dwell in His presence.

Application: Dwelling in the presence of God's glory has prerequisites; those who fulfill them loyally can expect to dwell daily in His favor and forever on His holy hill.

Prayer: God, You are my hope, and joy, may I live each day in Your presence, awaiting the revelation of Your glory. Amen.

Proverbs 6:30-35 Pros and Cons of Adultery

Pr 6:30 “Men don’t despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry: 31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house. 32 He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul. 33 He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.“

Observations: 6:30-35 This chapter ends a section on the folly of adultery, and sets up the next chapter, all of which deal with avoiding delightful dealer of death. The societal scorn and vengeful husband are the things to avoid in this chapter. A thief who steals must restore seven fold (not worth it). But how can an adulterer restore what he has illegitimately taken?

Caesar Augustus successfully saved Rome by restoring the morals that had been eroded by prosperity. He banned adultery. In my Western Civilization classes, I ask my students if adultery is a good or bad thing, and have them break into small groups to draw up a “pro” and “con” list. They have trouble listing advantages, because it seems that someone always gets hurt, particularly the kids. A “pro”: you get a short term good feeling that turns bad when the guilt sets in, and turns horrible when you get dumped for a newer model. (Wait, was that a “pro” or two “cons”?)

We use a paradigm for evaluating truth claims: Truth is that which best explains all the facts, found at the convergence of:

• Revelation (thank you Jews for the foundation of individual rights and Western Civ),
• Reason (thank you Greeks, you logically consistent thinkers), and
• Reality (thank you Romans, you consummate pragmatists).

There is no Revelation, according to any religion which seeks to create a continuing community, that says: “Thou shalt commit adultery.” Put a point in the “con” column.

The Greeks considered the family to be the building block of society (adultery destroys families); their ideal man is one who governs his passions by objectives (even Epicurus said this), and who would keep his word and promises (as in marriage commitments). Two more marks in the “con” column.

The Romans always gravitated toward what worked in real life; studies have shown that children of families with a father and mother committed to each other raise children that are healthier, wealthier, and wiser than those of single parent families. After controlling for race and other variables, an overwhelming majority of prison inmates are from single parent families. Another two or more points in the “con” column.

Though most of my students had never seen the Ten Commandments, they have seen the heartbreak of selfish and self-indulgent living.
The cons outweigh the “pros.”

Application: Count the cost, and take whatever steps are necessary to walk wisely; God gives the greatest joy to those who do things His way.

Prayer: Lord, thanks that You are sufficient for all my needs, and are the God who holds innumerable pleasures and delights for the righteous; may I fully enjoy all You have for me. Amen.

Numbers 21-24 The Bronze Serpent is key to understanding John 3:16 the most famous verse in the Bible. Balaam is mentioned in the NT, and in his oracles of blessing Israel, reiterates aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12), showing that God doesn't forget His promises, but implements them in response to our obedience.

• Oracle 1: Seed promise (23:10)
• Oracle 2: Land promise (23:24-25)
• Oracle 3: Blessing promise (24:9)

Chapter 21 Fiery Serpents and Victory

21:1 The Canaanite, the king of Arad...fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities." 3 Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: 4 They journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 The people spoke against God, and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread." 6 Yahweh sent fiery/venomous serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you; pray to Yahweh, that He take away the serpents from us." Moses prayed for the people. 8 Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.

21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 "Let me pass through your land": 23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel. 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land 25 Israel took all these cities: and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns of it. 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took the towns of it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 Yahweh said to Moses, "Don`t fear him: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." 35 So they struck him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.

Observations: 21:2 God gives victory because of their obedience.

21:5-6 God gives grief because of their grumbling.

21:8 All they had to do was look to God's provision and the consequence of their sin went away. Just like Jesus in John 3:15-16.

21:21-35 God is helping; they are not fearing; He is giving them territory to the south east of the Promised Land. More detail in Deuteronomy 2:24 "Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you."

Application: We need to look to God's provision for our sin, and do exactly what He says to solve our problems.

Prayer: Giver of Victory and Vipers, thanks that You provide what I need, be it victory, discipline, or solution for my Sin. You are my total Savior. Amen.

Chapter 22 Smart Donkey, Stupid Prophet

22:1 The children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 3 Moab was afraid...and...distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam: "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: they cover the surface of the earth, and they settling next to me. 6 Please come now therefore curse this people; for they are too mighty for me: so that I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand...8 He said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me": 9 God came to Balaam, and said, "What men are these with you?..." 12 God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed." 13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go back to your land; for Yahweh refuses to give me permission to go with you....18 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can`t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more." 20 God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men are come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that shall you do." 21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the Angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way. 24 Then the Angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw the Angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam`s foot against the wall: and he struck her again. 26 The Angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the Angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" 29 Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you." 30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?" and he said, "No." 31 Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 The Angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I am come forth as an adversary, because your way is perverse before Me: 33 and the donkey saw Me, and turned aside before Me these three times: unless she had turned aside from Me, surely now I had even slain you, and saved her alive." 34 Balaam said to the Angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned; for I didn`t know that You stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease You, I will go back again." 35 The Angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you shall you speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Didn`t I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn`t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?" 38 Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak." 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriathhuzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. 41 It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there all the people.

Observations: 22:8, 18 Balaam communicates with Yahweh, whom he calls “my God”. He feared God, submitted to Him, and received revelation from Him. On the other hand, Joshua 13:22 calls him a soothsayer, a prohibited occupation.

2Pt 2:15-16 in describing false teachers, calls him a prophet: “forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; 16 but he was rebuked for his own lawlessness*. A mute donkey spoke with a man's voice and stopped the madness* of the prophet.”      *(beside the law; beside the mind)

People with digital brains (on/off; black/white) are boggled by Balaam, because he is checkered.

22:28-31 An obvious “contradiction,” so obvious that no one would write nor copy it. So rather than dismissing the entire Bible as fantasy, we need to dig a little deeper to see what's going on. If Balaam was loyal to God and His people, he would have refused to go from the get-go. But loving temporal gain more than God's people, he puts himself in a position to curse God's people, and eventually pays for his folly. God tells him to go, so that He may be glorified, by having a non-Israelite, inclined to curse Israel wind up blessing them (just like God said would happen if they obeyed). The rebuke that follows reinforces the instruction to only say what God wants, and demonstrates that though one may have advanced or even esoteric knowledge, one needs submissive sensitivity to the Spirit of God. The donkey has greater spirituality than the prophet. Good Donkey!

22:29 Fans of irony will enjoy a chuckle here.

22:33-35 God graciously sends warnings and then spares based upon repentance.

Application: Those who fail to embrace God's agenda will limp through life to a tragic destination.

Prayer: Lord, may I never lose sight of Your objectives to bless Your people; may I never use what You've given to displease You. Amen.

Chapter 23 Blessings Rather than Cursings

23:1 Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams." 2 Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram. 3 Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever He shows me I will tell you". He went to a bare height. 4 God met Balaam: 5 Yahweh put a word in Balaam`s mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 6 He returned to Balak...and all the princes of Moab. 8 "How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? How shall I denounce, whom Yahweh has not denounce? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, From the hills I see him: behold, it is a people that lives separate/alone, And shall not consider itself among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, Let my last end be like his!"  11 Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have blessed them altogether." 12 He answered and said, "Must I not speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth?" 13 Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place...and curse me them from there." 16 Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak. 19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Neither the son of man, that He should repent: Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: He has blessed, and I can`t reverse it. 21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob; Neither has he seen trouble in Israel: Yahweh his God is with him, The shout of a king is among them. 22 God brings them forth out of Egypt; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox. 23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God done! 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land...cities...""27 Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse me them from there." 28 Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert. 29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams." 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

Observations: 23:19 Balak thinks a place (territorial spirits) causes spiritual power. But it is God's purpose to bless that will prevail.

Oracle 1: Seed promise 23:9-10

Oracle 2: Land promise 23:24

Oracle 3: Blessing promise 24:9

23:21-23 Balaam says that God doesn't see a basis for cursing Israel.

Chapter 24 Blessings Rather than Cursings II

24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn`t go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, "The man whose eye was closed; 4 who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down (into a trance), and having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, Your tents, Israel! 7...His king shall be higher than Agag, His kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brings him forth out of Egypt; He has the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, Shall break their bones in pieces, Smite [them] through with his arrows. 9...Blessed be everyone who blesses you, Cursed be everyone who curses you."" 10 Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor. 14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, [and] I will counsel you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days." 
15 He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says...17 "I see Him, but not now; I see Him, but not near: There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob, A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, Shall strike through the corners of Moab, Break down all the sons of tumult. 18 Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [who were] his enemies; While Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall One have dominion..."" 25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Observations: 24:9 Blessing like God promised Abe in Genesis 12.

24:11 Would you rather be blessed by a temporary king or an eternal God?

24:17 A star and scepter were symbols of a king. The vision parallels Jacob's blessing of Judah in Gen 49.

Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.

Application: If following God makes you miss out on temporal blessings from people, you've made the right choice.

Prayer: God Who Loves to Bless, keep me back for doing things that incur Your wrath, and bless Me as You've promised to bless Your faithful servants. Thank You. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God is not a man, that He should lie; When He promises, He provides. He promises to bless the obedient and discipline the disobedient. He has creative ways to get our attention, be it serpents or donkeys. He relents when men repent. He blesses His people even through their enemies (whom He destroys when we obey).

Us in a nutshell: We have our ups and downs, going from victory to defeat because we haven't transformed our values (see Roller Coaster Christianity). We lose when we're not loyal to God and His people.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net
Praying in the Garden

Roller Coaster Christianity

Numbers complete text

Chapter 21

21:1 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. 3 Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Hormah. 4 They journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 The people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread. 6 Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 The people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you; pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us. Moses prayed for the people. 8 Yahweh said to Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived. 10 The children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in Oboth. 11 They journeyed from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they journeyed, and encamped in the valley of Zered. 13 From there they journeyed, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that comes out of the border of the Amorites: for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the book of the Wars of Yahweh, Vaheb in Suphah, The valleys of the Arnon, 15 The slope of the valleys That inclines toward the dwelling of Ar, Leans on the border of Moab. 16 From there [they journeyed] to Beer: that is the well whereof Yahweh said to Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. 17 Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, well; sing you to it: 18 The well, which the princes dug, Which the nobles of the people dug, With the scepter, [and] with their poles. From the wilderness [they journeyed] to Mattanah; 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert. 21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 Let me pass through your land: we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king`s highway, until we have passed your border. 23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel. 24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 Israel took all these cities: and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns of it. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon. 27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, Come you to Heshbon; Let the city of Sihon be built and established: 28 For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon. 29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh: He has given his sons as fugitives, His daughters into captivity, To Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even to Dibon, We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which [reaches] to Medeba. 31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took the towns of it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 34 Yahweh said to Moses, Don`t fear him: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon. 35 So they struck him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.

Chapter 22

22:1 The children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they abide over against me. 6 Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 He said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you? 10 Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying], 11 Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the surface of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out. 12 God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed. 13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Yahweh refuses to give me leave to go with you. 14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. 15 Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me: 17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me. 18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can`t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more. 20 God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men are come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that shall you do. 21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way. 24 Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam`s foot against the wall: and he struck her again. 26 The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times? 29 Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you. 30 The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever wont to do so to you? and he said, No. 31 Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before me: 33 and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain you, and saved her alive. 34 Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn`t know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again. 35 The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, Didn`t I earnestly send to you to call you? why didn`t you come to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor? 38 Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriathhuzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. 41 It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.

Chapter 23

23:1 Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams. 2 Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram. 3 Balaam said to Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you. He went to a bare height. 4 God met Balaam: and he said to him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar. 5 Yahweh put a word in Balaam`s mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak. 6 He returned to him, and, behold, he was standing by his burnt- offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 He took up his parable, and said, From Aram has Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, Come, defy Israel. 8 How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy, whom Yahweh has not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, From the hills I see him: behold, it is a people that dwells alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, Let my last end be like his! 11 Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have blessed them altogether. 12 He answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth? 13 Balak said to him, Please come with me to another place, from whence you may see them; you shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all: and curse me them from there. 14 He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar. 15 He said to Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet [Yahweh] yonder. 16 Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak. 17 He came to him, and, behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, What has Yahweh spoken? 18 He took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Listen to me, you son of Zippor: 19 God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: He has blessed, and I can`t reverse it. 21 He has not saw iniquity in Jacob; Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel: Yahweh his God is with him, The shout of a king is among them. 22 God brings them forth out of Egypt; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox. 23 Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shall it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God done! 24 Behold, the people rises up as a lioness, As a lion does he lift himself up: He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, Drink the blood of the slain. 25 Balak said to Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered Balak, Didn`t I tell you, saying, All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do? 27 Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; peradventure it will please God that you may curse me them from there. 28 Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert. 29 Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams. 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

Chapter 24

24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn`t go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says; 4 He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, Your tents, Israel! 6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Yahweh has planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters. 7 Water shall flow from his buckets, His seed shall be in many waters, His king shall be higher than Agag, His kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brings him forth out of Egypt; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, Shall break their bones in pieces, Smite [them] through with his arrows. 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, As a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be everyone who blesses you, Cursed be everyone who curses you. 10 Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor. 12 Balaam said to Balak, Didn`t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying, 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can`t go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind; what Yahweh speaks, that will I speak? 14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, [and] I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days. 15 He took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man whose eye was closed says; 16 He says, who hears the words of God, Knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: 17 I see him, but not now; I see him, but not near: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, A scepter shall rise out of Israel, Shall strike through the corners of Moab, Break down all the sons of tumult. 18 Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [who were] his enemies; While Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, Shall destroy the remnant from the city. 20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction. 21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your dwelling-place, Your nest is set in the rock. 22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry you away captive. 23 He took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this? 24 But ships [shall come] from the coast of Kittim, They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; He also shall come to destruction. 25 Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.