🔢WEB · Numbers 24:11
What does Numbers 24:11 mean?
"Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”"
— Numbers 24:11 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
God brings him 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, and pierce them with his arrows.
He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?
Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
Explanation
This verse captures the frustrated outburst of Balak, king of Moab, directed at the prophet Balaam. In plain language, Balak is telling Balaam to leave immediately, sarcastically noting that he had intended to reward Balaam richly for cursing Israel, but instead God ("Yahweh") had prevented Balaam from doing what Balak wanted. It is essentially Balak firing Balaam and blaming God for ruining his plan.
The context is found in Numbers 22–24, where Balak, fearful of the Israelites camped near his territory, hires Balaam, a prophet known for his spiritual power, to pronounce a curse over Israel so that Moab could defeat them. Balaam agrees to go, but God makes clear from the outset that Balaam may only speak what God gives him to say. Despite Balak's repeated attempts—moving Balaam to different locations and offering sacrifices—Balaam opens his mouth three times and each time blesses Israel instead of cursing them. By chapter 24, Balak's patience is exhaus
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