Numbers 22

This chapter belongs to the latter part of Numbers and forms the first section of the Balaam narrative, which runs from chapter 22 through chapter 24. In Numbers 21, Israel defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. Chapter 22 opens with Moab alarmed at that news.

Outline

• Verse 1: Israel encamps in the plains of Moab, on the far side of the Jordan River opposite Jericho.
• Verses 2–4: Balak the son of Zippor, fearing Israel, confers with the elders of Midian.
• Verses 5–7: Balak sends messengers to Balaam at Pethor, by the river, asking him to curse the people who have come out of Egypt. The elders set out carrying the rewards of divination.
• Verses 8–14: God says, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people," and Balaam sends the envoys away.
• Verses 15–19: Balak sends princes more numerous and of higher rank than the first. Balaam answers that even if Balak were to give him his house full of silver and gold, he could not go beyond the word of God.
• Verses 20–21: God comes to Balaam at night and tells him to go with them but to do only what He tells him, and Balaam sets out riding on his donkey.
• Verses 22–27: God's anger is kindled, and the angel of the LORD stands in the way with a drawn sword. Only the donkey sees the angel; she turns aside three times, and each time Balaam strikes her.
• Verses 28–30: The LORD opens the donkey's mouth, and she speaks to Balaam.
• Verses 31–35: Balaam's eyes are opened; he sees the angel, falls down, and confesses, "I have sinned." The angel commands him to go on but to speak only the word he is given.
• Verses 36–40: Balak comes out to meet Balaam at a city on the border of the Arnon, and at Kirjath-huzoth he offers oxen and sheep and entertains him.
• Verse 41: Balak takes Balaam up to the high places of Baal, from which Balaam looks out over the outermost part of Israel's camp.

Key Verses

• Numbers 22:12: "for they are blessed" — expresses the theme of the entire Balaam narrative: God's blessing takes precedence over Balak's scheme to curse.
• Numbers 22:28: "And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass" — the best-known scene in the chapter.
• Numbers 22:38: "the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak" — a statement that prepares for the oracles in Numbers 23 and Numbers 24.

Characters and Places

• Balak: The son of Zippor and king of Moab.
• Balaam: The son of Beor. He lived at Pethor and was known as one who pronounced blessings and curses.
• The angel of the LORD: The figure who stood in Balaam's path with a drawn sword.
• Pethor: Balaam's hometown; the text describes it only as being "by the river."
• Arnon: The place on the farthest edge of Moab's border.
• Kirjath-huzoth: The city where Balak entertained Balaam.

Points for Reflection

• God's permission and God's anger: In verse 20 God tells Balaam to go, yet in verse 22 He is angry that Balaam is going. Interpreters have explained this tension in various ways. Some hold that Balaam's heart was already inclined toward Balak's reward; others emphasize that the permission was conditional.
• The identity of the angel of the LORD: Some interpreters regard the figure as an angel. Others see it as a preincarnate appearance of Christ.
• Assessment of Balaam: In this chapter Balaam speaks as though he obeys the word of God. However, Joshua 13:22 calls him "the soothsayer," and Numbers 31 reports that his counsel lay behind the incident at Peor (Numbers 25).
• Connections with the New Testament: 2 Peter 2 describes Balaam as one "who loved the wages of unrighteousness" and notes that the speaking donkey restrained his madness. Jude 1 and Revelation 2 likewise cite the way of Balaam and the doctrine of Balaam as warnings.

In the Korean Church

The story of the speaking donkey is frequently taught in Sunday school. In preaching, the passage is often used, under the phrase "the way of Balaam," as a warning against a faith driven by the pursuit of material wealth and honor.