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Numbers 23:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 23:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?
Numbers 23:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.
15And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet [Jehovah] yonder.
16And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.
17And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?
18And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:
19God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?
20Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
← Numbers 23:16Numbers 23:18 →
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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 when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, etc.] As before; (<042306>Numbers 23:6) and the princes of Moab with him; Jarchi observes, that before it is said, all the princes of Moab, but not so here; for when they saw there was no hope of succeeding, some of them went away, and only some were left: and Balak said unto him, what hath the Lord spoken? being in haste to know what it was, whether agreeable or not.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“What: Num 23:26; Sa1 3:17; Jer 37:17 Numbers 23:18”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 23 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification