Numbers 23:7
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א
And he took up
H5375
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א
And he took up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
1 of 18
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
מְשָׁל֖וֹ
his parable
H4912
מְשָׁל֖וֹ
his parable
Strong's:
H4912
Word #:
2 of 18
properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֲ֠רָם
me from Aram
H758
אֲ֠רָם
me from Aram
Strong's:
H758
Word #:
5 of 18
aram or syria, and its inhabitants; also the name of the son of shem, a grandson of nahor, and of an israelite
יַנְחֵ֨נִי
hath brought
H5148
יַנְחֵ֨נִי
hath brought
Strong's:
H5148
Word #:
6 of 18
to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists)
מוֹאָב֙
of Moab
H4124
מוֹאָב֙
of Moab
Strong's:
H4124
Word #:
9 of 18
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
קֶ֔דֶם
of the east
H6924
קֶ֔דֶם
of the east
Strong's:
H6924
Word #:
11 of 18
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
לְכָה֙
H1980
לְכָה֙
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
12 of 18
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וּלְכָ֖ה
H1980
וּלְכָ֖ה
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
16 of 18
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:4Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.Numbers 24:3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:Numbers 23:18And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:Job 29:1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,Job 27:1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,Numbers 24:15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:Numbers 24:23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!Micah 2:4In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
Historical Context
Aram refers to the region of Syria/Mesopotamia, confirming Balaam's great distance from Moab. The 'mountains of the east' likely refers to the region near Haran where Abraham's family originated. Balaam came from the same geographical region as Israel's patriarchs, possibly explaining his knowledge of Yahweh. The great distance Balak paid Balaam to travel underscored the importance of this spiritual battle.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's reversal of intended curses into blessings demonstrate His redemptive power?
- What does it mean that human purposes for evil become occasions for divine blessing?
- How should we respond when we learn of schemes against us that God has thwarted?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Balaam's oracle begins 'Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.' This introduction establishes the commission he received and cannot fulfill. The Hebrew parallelism—'curse me Jacob...defy Israel'—uses both covenant names for God's people. Balaam must publicly acknowledge his hiring for cursing, making his subsequent blessing all the more dramatic. This pattern—announcing intended evil, then blessing instead—magnifies God's protective power. What men purpose for harm, God turns to blessing (Genesis 50:20).