Numbers 23:14

“And he brought him into the field of Zophim, etc.] Or Sede Tzophim, as Hillerus f365 reads it, so called from the watch tower, and watchmen in it: Jarchi says, it was a high place, where a watchman stood to observe if an army came against a city, and so a very proper place to take a view of the armies of Israel from: to the top of Pisgah; a high hill in this place, where perhaps the watch tower was, or, however, the watchman stood: this looked towards Jeshimon or Bethjesimoth, in the plain of Moab, where Israel lay encamped, (see <042120>Numbers 21:20 33:49): and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar: as he had done before, (<042302>Numbers 23:2).”

“he brought him into the field of Zophim . . . top of Pisgah--a flat surface on the summit of the mountain range, which was cultivated land. Others render it "the field of sentinels," an eminence where some of Balak's guards were posted to give signals [CALMET].”

“The field of Zophim - Or, “of watchers.” It lay upon the top of Pisgah, north of the former station, and nearer to the Israelite camp; the greater part of which was, however, probably concealed from it by an intervening spur of the hill. Beyond the camp Balaam’s eye would pass on to the bed of the Jordan. It was perhaps a lion coming up in his strength from the swelling of that stream (compare Jeremiah 49:19) that furnished him with the augury he awaited, and so dictated the final similitude of his next parable. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Pisgah: or, the hill, Num 21:20; Deu 3:27 \*marg. Deu 4:49, Deu 34:1 \*marg. built seven: Num 23:1, Num 23:2, Num 23:29; Isa 1:10, Isa 1:11, Isa 46:6; Hos 12:11 Numbers 23:15”