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.”
Parallel Translations
-
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.”
-
And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
Show all 3 translations
-
And Balaam said unto Balak: 'Spoke I not also to thy messengers that thou didst send unto me, saying:
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what the LORD speaketh, that will I speak?
And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.'
Cross-references (19)
- Micah 6:5 (v14) My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may…
- Numbers 22:18 (vv12–13) 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…
- Genesis 49:1 (v14) Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
- Revelation 2:14 (v14) 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…
- Numbers 16:28 (v13) Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind.
Show all 18 cross-references
- Daniel 2:28 (v14) but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your…
- 2 Timothy 3:1 (v14) But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come.
- Numbers 22:20 (v13) God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to…
- Numbers 22:38 (v12) 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…
- Numbers 24:17 (v14) I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through…
- Numbers 31:7-18 (v14) They fought against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses. They killed every male. They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their…
- Isaiah 24:22 (v14) They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; and after many days they will be…
- Jeremiah 48:47 (v14) “Yet I will reverse the captivity of Moab in the latter days,” says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
- Jeremiah 49:39 (v14) ‘But it will happen in the latter days that I will reverse the captivity of Elam,’ says Yahweh.”
- Daniel 10:14 (v14) Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days.”
- Hosea 3:5 (v14) Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and…
- Acts 2:17 (v14) ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young…
- Revelation 2:10 (v14) Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be…
18 distinct cross-references across this passage (19 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (12 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v14 Hebrew, counsel.
Hebrew, counsel.
He gave also wicked counsel to cause the Israelites to sin, that thereby God might forsake them, Num. 31:16.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv13–14 Num 24:13 If Balak would give me his house…
Num 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do [either] good or bad of mine own mind; [but] what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
Ver. 13. I cannot go beyond.] Here was coloured covetousness, or "a cloak of covetousness." {1Th 2:5} {See Trapp on "1Th 2:5"} God lets out the tedder to wicked men for a time, and then calls them back with shame enough to their task; lets them have the ball on the foot till they come almost to the goal, and then defeats them of their great hopes; as he did this sinful couple. Balak had not his will, nor Balaam his wages; God fooled them both, pulling the morsel out of their mouths, that they had well-nigh devoured.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v14 Advertise thee, or inform thee, to wit, concerning future…
Advertise thee, or inform thee, to wit, concerning future things, as it here follows, for this word seems inseparably joined with the following. Others, give thee counsel, and tell thee what this people, &c. So it is a short and defective speech, such as we have Exo 4:5; 13:8. And by counsel. they understand that which is related Num 25:1,2, which was done by Balaam’s counsel, Num 31:16; Rev 2:14. But the former sense is more unforced and agreeable to the following words as they lie.
In the latter days: not in thy time, therefore thou hast no reason to fear, but in succeeding ages, as 2Sa 8:2, &c.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv12–14 And Balaam said unto Balak,.... In order to mitigate…
And Balaam said unto Balak,.... In order to mitigate his wrath, and bring him into a better temper:
spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me: those that came to him a second time; for to the first he said nothing of what is after related, but to the last he did much the same as he had afterwards said to Balak himself: saying,
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v14 I will advertise thee - i. e., “I will…
I will advertise thee - i. e., “I will advise thee,” words which refer to the ensuing prophecy.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v14 Counsel, out of my own head. This he was…
Counsel, out of my own head. This he was going to do, (Calmet) that he might not lose his reward, when again he found himself impelled by the Lord to speak what was contrary to his temporal interest. After complying reluctantly, God ceased to strive, as it were, with his rebellious will any longer, and left him to follow the bent of his corrupt heart. Upon which he proceeded to give that infernal counsel, which involved both many of the Israelites and himself in utter destruction. (Haydock) (Chap. xxxi. 16., and Apocalypse ii. 4. --- Days. Hebrew, "Come, I will admonish thee what this people shall do to thy people," &c. Onkelos and Origen (hom. 18. and 20.) give both senses. (Calmet) --- Indeed, the transactions of both people were so blended, when they were fighting together, that to give the history of one would be explaining the fortune of the other. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv12, 14 12. Spake I not — Balaam shows that his…
12. Spake I not — Balaam shows that his conduct has been consistent from the beginning of his relations to Balak by quoting his response to the second embassy. See Num_22:18, note.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v14 14. I will advertise thee] I will counsel thee.…
14. I will advertise thee] I will counsel thee. ‘Advertise’ is an archaism, meaning ‘inform’; cf. Rth_4:4 (A.V. [Note: .V. The Authorised Version.] ).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv13–14 (13) I cannot go beyond the commandment of the…
(13) I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord.—Hebrew, the mouth of the Lord: the same expression which is used in Num_22:18, where the Authorised Version has “the word of the Lord.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv12, 14 Spake I not also. This was altogether true. Balaam…
Spake I not also. This was altogether true. Balaam had enough of the true prophet about him not only to act with strict fidelity, as far as the letter of the command went, but also to behave with great dignity towards Balak.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v12 Even if Balak gave me his palace full of…
Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold
Balaam is describing something that would never happen. This statement emphasizes that there is nothing that would make Balaam disobey God. (See: Hypothetical Situations)
Read full note →
Did I not say this to them?
Balaam uses a question to remind Balak about what he said earlier. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. "AT: I said this to them." (See: Rhetorical Question)
this people
"the Israelites"
translationWords
messenger
send
palace
silver
gold
word of God
Yahweh
people of God
people group
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v14 24:14 let me tell you what the Israelites will…
24:14 let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future: Since Balak sought to curse Israel, he and his people would be cursed (24:9). The damage that Balak hoped to inflict on Israel would fall on Moab.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.