DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2017 May 31
Balaam's Ass (1626)
Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Musee Cognacq-Jay, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
SPECIAL NOTE:
[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]
Explanation: Numbers 22 is the first of three chapters where Balaam is the prominent figure. A central incident in the chapter is the account of Balaam and his ass (pictured above). While the Israelites were in the plains of Moab, King Balak of Moab, in conjunction with certain rulers from Midian, decided to send messengers to Balaam with a request to come from Mesopotamia, about 400 miles away, to curse the people of Israel (1-6).
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian came to Balaam offering him a reward to come and curse Israel. But Balaam refused when the LORD told him not to go with them because Israel was blessed (7-14). But Balak sent more princes who were of higher rank to renew the request and to offer him whatever he asked as a reward. Balaam told them that he could only say what the LORD told him to say. But Balaam made another inquiry of the LORD. This time the LORD told him to go with the men but to say only what he told him to say. So Balaam went (15-21).
However, the angel of the LORD stood against him because his way was perverse. The ass he was riding turned away from the angel, although Balaam did not see him. Balaam forced the ass to continue, and it turned aside again. Finally the ass fell down under him. And, when Balaam began to beat her for the third time, the LORD opened her mouth; and she was able to reason (2 Peter 2:16) with Balaam (22-30).
The LORD then opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of the LORD who rebuked him for his perversity. Balaam offered to go back; but the angel of the LORD told him to continue with the men who came to fetch him. Nevertheless, the angel of the LORD again warned him to say only what he told him to speak (31-35).
When Balaam arrived, Balak complained to Balaam that he should have come when he first called him. But Balaam told him that he would speak only what the LORD told him to speak. So Balaam went with Balak to Kirjathhuzoth where he and the princes who accompanied them offered oxen and sheep (36-40).
The next day, Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal where he could see part of the people (41).
[ Sermons: Robert S Rayburn. Edward Donnelly. Various. ]
[ Illustration: Today's painting illustrates the main theme of Numbers 22, Baalim's opposition to Israel and the LORD's opposition to him. ]
RESOURCES
PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Numbers 22: [1] Numbers 33:49; Deuteronomy 1:1; Isaiah 9:1.
[3] Deuteronomy 2:9; Judges 11:17.
[4] Numbers 21:26.
[5] Joshua 13:22; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; 2 Peter 2:15; Numbers 23:7; Genesis 12:5; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 31:21; Exodus 23:31; 2 Chronicles 9:26; Exodus 10:5.
[6] Deuteronomy 23:5; Joshua 24:10; Nehemiah 13:2.
[19] Numbers 23:19.
[20] Proverbs 1:31; Psalm 106:15; Psalm 81:12; Isaiah 66:4; Jeremiah 2:19.
[28] 2 Peter 2:16.
[36] Numbers 21:15.
[41] Numbers 23:13. -- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]
HARMONY OF THE LAW
HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES
Pentateuch Detailed Outline:
Genesis Detailed Outline:
Exodus Detailed Outline:
Leviticus Detailed Outline
Old Testament Offerings Chart
Numbers Detailed Outline
Numbers 22
NUMBERS (COVENANT INSTRUCTION CONTINUES: LAWS OF COMMUNITY LIFE)
Note: "It is the only age in the Bible in which miracle is a daily fact of life."
(Richard Elliott Friedman, Commentary on the Torah, [San Francisco]: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001, 421)
True of Exodus through Deuteronomy and up to Joshua 5:12.
{Pentateuch Outline: 14. Generations of Aaron & Moses (Nu 3:1 - Dt 34:12) 1445 - 1406 B.C. Sinai}
2. Resumption of the Journeys [Israel Wanders in the Wilderness] (Nu 10:11 - Nu 36:13) 1445 - 1406 B.C. Sinai & Shittim
b. 3rd Group of Journeys: Kadesh to Ezion-Geber to Kadesh (Nu 15:1 - Nu 20:21) 1445 - 1407 B.C. Sinai
(Numbers does not explicitly mention the start of this Journey, but see Nu 15:32; 16:13; 20:1; Dt 1:46; 2:1 + Nu 33)
(See Chart pp. 815-817 in Davis Dictionary of the Bible, 4th Edition, "Wilderness of the Wandering," pp. 812-817)
c. 4th Group of Journeys: Kadesh to Jordan River (Shittim) - (Nu 20:22 - Nu 36:13) 1407 - 1406 B.C. Sinai & Shittim
1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people [shrank exceedingly from the faces of the people], because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of 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 face [eye] of the earth, and they abide over against me:
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursesd.
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which coverth the face [eye] of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour [to glorify I shall glorify you exceedingly], and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee [habitually, have I habitually done so]? And he said,, Nay.
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face [nose].
32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee [~ your eye], I will get me back again.
35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send [to send I sent] unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all [ to be able shall I be able] to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and bought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
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