Numbers 23:18

“And he took up his parable, etc.] Pronounced the word put into his mouth, and said, rise up Balak, and hear; not from his seat, as Eglon a successor of his did, (<070320>Judges 3:20) for he was now standing by his burnt offering; but the sense is, that he would raise his attention, and stir up himself with all diligence to hear what he was about to say: hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor; or to his word, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, which follow.”

“Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Num 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man.”

“Rise up - This word implies the diligent attention required; rouse up thyself and carefully mind what I say. Numbers 23:19”

“23:18-24 This oracle emphasizes God’s faithfulness to his people—he would stay with them and keep all of his promises.”

“Rise up: Jdg 3:20 Numbers 23:19”

“The second saying. - "Up, Balak, and hear! Hearken to me, son of Zippor!" קוּם, "stand up," is a call to mental elevation, to the perception of the word of God; for Balak was standing by his sacrifice ( Num 23:17). האזין with עד, as in Job 32:11, signifies a hearing which presses forward to the speaker, i.e., in keen and minute attention (Hengstenberg). בּנו, with the antiquated union vowel for בּן; see at Gen 1:24. Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie; nor a son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and should He not do it? and spoken, and should not carry it out?" Num 23:20 "Behold, I have received to bless: and He hath blessed; and I cannot turn it." Balaam meets Balak's…”