2 Peter 2:15

“Which have forsaken the right way, etc.] The right way of the Lord, the way of truth, the Gospel of truth; or Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life; the true way to eternal life, and which is the right way to eternal happiness; the way of life, righteousness, and salvation by Christ, the Christian faith, and the doctrine of it, which they once professed, but now relinquished: and are gone astray; from the right way, the way of truth and holiness, into the paths of error and profaneness: following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor; which Jude calls his error, (<650111>Jude 1:11), and is the path of covetousness, uncleanness, and idolatry, sins which he was either guilty of…”

“have--Some of the seducers are spoken of as already come, others as yet to come. following--out: so the Greek. the way-- (Num 22:23, Num 22:32; Isa 56:11). son of Bosor--the same as Beor (Num 22:5). This word was adopted, perhaps, because the kindred word Basar means flesh; and Balaam is justly termed son of carnality, as covetous, and the enticer of Israel to lust. loved the wages of unrighteousness--and therefore wished (in order to gain them from Balak) to curse Israel whom God had blessed, and at last gave the hellish counsel that the only way to bring God's curse on Israel was to entice them to fleshly lust and idolatry, which often go together.”

“Which have forsaken the right way - The straight path of honesty and integrity. Religion is often represented as a straight path, and to do wrong is to go out of that path in a crooked way. Following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor - See Numbers 22:5, following. In the Book of Numbers, Balaam is called the son of “Beor.” Perhaps the name Beor was corrupted into Bosor; or, as Rosenmuller suggests, the father of Balaam may have had two names. Schleusner (Lexicon) supposes that it was changed by the Greeks because it was more easily pronounced. The Septuagint, however, reads it as Βεὼρ Beōr - “Beor.” The meaning here is, that they IMitAted Balaam. The particular point to which Peter refers…”

“The way of Balaam the son of Bosor - So the Chaldeans pronounced what the Jews termed Beor; namely, the way of covetousness. Who loved - Earnestly desired, though he did not dare to take, the reward of unrighteousness - The money which Balak would have given him for cursing Israel. 2 Peter 2:16”

“2:15 who loved to earn money by doing wrong: Despite consulting with God about what he should do, Balaam was determined to go his own way in hopes of receiving Balak’s money (see Num 22–24). The Old Testament account hints at Balaam’s greed, and Jewish tradition developed this theme (see Numbers Rabbah 20:10; Mishnah Avot 5:22; Philo, Moses 1:266-268).”

“forsaken: Sa1 12:23; Kg1 18:18, Kg1 19:10; Eze 9:10; Pro 28:4; Hos 14:8; Act 13:10 Balaam: Num 22:5-7 who: Num 22:18-21, Num 22:23, Num 22:28, Num 31:16; Deu 23:4, Deu 23:5; Mic 6:5; Jde 1:11; Rev 2:14 wages: Act 1:18 2 Peter 2:16”