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Numbers 22:29

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 22:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
Numbers 22:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
28And Jehovah 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?
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:
← Numbers 22:28Numbers 22:30 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me, etc.] Or rather “defiled me”, as the word is rendered in (<181615>Job 16:15) by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it, ''because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;” the sense of mocking is not easy to be understood, unless it be that it exposed him to be mocked and laughed at by others, by turning aside, and lying down, and being so unruly; but then there were only his servants with him, to whom only he could be exposed in such a manner, which one would think would not have given him so much concern, and put him into such a passion: the word sometimes is…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Balaam said - Balaam was not much terrified with the ass's speaking, because perhaps he was accustomed to converse with evil spirits, who appeared to him and discoursed with him in the shape of such creatures. Perhaps he was so blinded by passion, that he did not consider the strangeness of the thing. Numbers 22:31”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for now would: Pro 12:10, Pro 12:16; Ecc 9:3 Numbers 22:30”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 22 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification