🔢WEB · Numbers 23:27
What does Numbers 23:27 mean?
"Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.”"
— Numbers 23:27 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Behold, the people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.”
But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do?’”
Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.”
Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
Explanation
Numbers 23:27 records King Balak's persistent request to Balaam after two failed attempts to curse the Israelites. In plain language, Balak is saying, "Let's try yet another spot—maybe from a different vantage point, God will finally let you curse this nation for me." It's a statement of stubborn determination mixed with desperation, as Balak refuses to accept that the outcome will be the same no matter where they stand.
The context is found in Numbers 22-24, where Balak, king of Moab, is terrified of the vast Israelite nation camped near his territory after their exodus from Egypt. He hires Balaam, a diviner/prophet with a reputation for effective blessings and curses, to curse Israel so Moab can defeat them. However, God intervenes and only allows Balaam to speak what God puts in his mouth. Twice already (from Bamoth-baal and the field of Zophim on Pisgah), Balaam has opened his mouth to curse Israel and instead pronounced blessings, much to Balak's frustration. This verse comes right after the second failed attempt, showing Balak's response: rather than accepting God's will, he suggests moving to yet a third location—the top of Peor—hoping a change of scenery might change the divine verdict.
Theologically, this verse highlights a profound truth: God's sovere
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