Numbers 23:7

“And he took up his parable, and said, etc.] Pronounced the word, the prophetic word, which God had put into his mouth; so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem call it, the parable of his prophecy; so called, because, in prophecies, often figurative and enigmatical expressions are used, and also sententious and weighty ones, either of which are sometimes called parables; (see <197802>Psalm 78:2 <182701>Job 27:1 29:1 <200106>Proverbs 1:6), Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram; or Syria, that is, from Mesopotamia, as the Septuagint translate it; and so the Targum of Jonathan, from Aram or Syria, which is by Euphrates: out of the mountains of the east: it being the mountainous part…”

“took up his parable--that is, spoke under the influence of inspiration, and in the highly poetical, figurative, and oracular style of a prophet. brought me from Aram--This word joined with "the mountains of the East," denotes the upper portion of Mesopotamia, lying on the east of Moab. The East enjoyed an infamous notoriety for magicians and soothsayers (Isa 2:6).”

“Aram - Or, “highland.” This term denotes the whole elevated region, from the northeastern frontier of Palestine to the Euphrates and the Tigris. The country between these streams was especially designated “Aram-naharaim,” or “Aram of the two rivers:” the Greeks called it Mesopotamia; and here, according to Deuteronomy 23:4, was Balaam’s home. Compare Numbers 22:5 note. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His parable - That is, his oracular and prophetical speech; which he calls a parable, because of the weightiness of the matter, and the liveliness of the expressions which is usual in parables. Jacob - The posterity of Jacob. Numbers 23:9”

“23:7-10 In his first oracle from God (23:5, 16), Balaam rehearsed the circumstances that brought him to Moab, emphasized God’s special relation with Israel, and declared his intention of protecting them from harm. • These poetic oracles illustrate the parallelism of Hebrew poetry. Parallel lines reinforce the content by repeating important concepts in a highly structured pattern. • Aram: Aram-naharaim (Gen 24:10) is another name for North Mesopotamia, where Balaam’s home of Pethor was located (Num 22:5). • The eastern hills are a line of mountains in North Syria. 23:7-8 Instead of cursing Israel, the seer noted their special status (cp. Exod 19:5-6; Deut 7:6-9) and observed that God’s…”

“he took: Num 23:18, Num 24:3, Num 24:15, Num 24:23; Job 27:1, Job 29:1; Psa 78:2; Eze 17:2, Eze 20:49; Mic 2:4; Hab 2:6; Mat 13:33, Mat 13:35; Mar 12:12 parable: The word mashal, which as a verb is to rule, have authority, and also to compare, as a noun signifies whatever is expressed in parabolic or figurative language. All these oracular speeches of Balaam are in hemistich metre in the original. They are highly dignified and sublime; and may be considered as immediate poetic productions of the Spirit of God ( Num 24:2). Aram: Num 22:5; Gen 10:22, Gen 28:2, Gen 28:7; Deu 23:4 Come: Num 22:6, Num 22:11, Num 22:17; Pro 26:2 defy Israel: Sa1 17:10, Sa1 17:25, Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36, Sa1 17:45;…”

“Balaam's first saying. - Having come back to the burnt-offering, Balaam commenced his utterance before the king and the assembled princes. משׁל, lit., a simile, then a proverb, because the latter consists of comparisons and figures, and lastly a sentence or saying. The application of this term to the announcements made by Balaam ( Num 23:7, Num 23:18, Num 24:3, Num 24:15, Num 24:20), whereas it is never used of the prophecies of the true prophets of Jehovah, but only of certain songs and similes inserted in them (cf. Isa 14:4; Eze 17:2; Eze 24:3; Mic 2:4), is to be accounted for not merely from the poetic form of Balaam's utterances, the predominance of poetical imagery, the sustained…”