Numbers 22:32

“And the angel of the Lord said unto him, etc.] When risen up, and standing before him: wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? the brute creatures are not to be beaten without cause, nor to be misused and abused by men, even their owners: behold, I went out to withstand thee; the ass was not to be blamed, nor to be beaten for turning aside, or lying down, it was I that stood in the way, and hindered its going forward, and this was done by me on purpose to oppose and stop thee: because thy way is perverse before me; the journey he took was not with his good liking and approbation, and especially seeing he went with an intention, if possible, to serve Balak, and curse Israel;…”

“Is perverse - Rather, is headlong. Compare Peter’s words 2 Peter 2:16, “the madness of the prophet.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Thy way is perverse - Springing from covetousness. Numbers 22:33”

“Wherefore: Num 22:28; Deu 25:4; Psa 36:6, Psa 145:9, Psa 147:9; Jon 4:11 withstand thee: Heb. be an adversary unto thee, Num 22:22 thy way: Deu 23:4; Pro 28:6; Mic 6:5; Act 13:10; Pe2 2:14, Pe2 2:15 before me: Num 22:20, Num 22:22, Num 22:35; Exo 3:2-6; Pro 14:2, Pro 28:18 Numbers 22:33”

“To humble him deeply and inwardly, the Lord help up before him the injustice of his cruel treatment of the ass, and told him at the same time that it had saved his life by turning out of the way. "I have come out," said the angel of the Lord, "as an adversary; for the way leads headlong into destruction before me;" i.e., the way which thou art going is leading thee, in my eyes, in my view, into destruction. ירט, to plunge, sc., into destruction, both here, and also in Job 16:11, the only other passage in which it occurs. Numbers 22:33”