Números 24

Números 24

Calvin - “It is said ‘the Spirit of God was upon him,’ not as if it had begun to inspire him at that particular moment when he cast his eyes upon the camp of Israel; but because it prompted him to look in that direction, in order that the impulse of prophecy might be stronger in him, as respecting a thing actually before his eyes. But after the Spirit had thus affected his senses, or at any rate had prepared them to be fit instruments for the execution of his office, it then also directed his tongue to prophesy; but in an extraordinary manner, so that a divine majesty shone forth in the sudden change, as if he were transformed into a new man. In a word, ‘the Spirit of God was upon him,’ showing by manifest token that He was the author of his address, and that Balaam did not speak of his own natural intelligence. To the same intent it is said that ‘he took up his parable,’ because the character of his address was marked with unusual grandeur and magnificent brilliancy.” Dr. Chalmers also speaks in a similar vein of this prophecy. “He is made the involuntary instrument of further revelations; and what he now utters when the Spirit of God came upon him, is in the very highest style and strain of lofty inspiration. We cannot fix on any portion of Scripture that bears a nobler or more sustained elevation than these effusions poured forth by Balaam from the mountains, as he looked down on the tents of Israel stretched out in full and far perspective before him.”—Bib. Readings in loc. Still the rhetorical or poetical merit of the utterance is comparatively of very little consequence when viewed in relation to its spiritual import. Recall a similar passage earlier in Numbers Numbers 11:25-29+ Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again. 26 But two men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the tent), and they prophesied in the camp. 27 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “Moses, my lord, restrain them.” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” Compare also passages like the following in Genesis 20:3 Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” Genesis 31:24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” In Jeremiah 1:4 we read "Now the word of the LORD came to me saying." Ostensibly Balaam's experience here was more like that of God’s true prophets, who received their message by way of the Spirit without omens, enchantations, etc. Was Balaam a prophet of God? Yes and no (in my opinion). He spoke inspired by the Spirit. He spoke the Words God had placed in his mouth. But he was a diviner and loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:15+) and a false teacher (Rev 2:14+). It seems highly unlikely that we will see Balaam in heaven, but we have to be honest and agree that only God knows one's heart! (1 Sa 16:7). Jensen - The discourse itself described by means of many striking figures a prosperous and victorious Israel under the hand of God, blessed for the ages to come. It ended with a reference to the original covenant given to Abraham: “Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, and cursed be every one that curseth thee” (24:9; cf. Gen. 12:3; 27:29). This third discourse, with its almost twenty blessings declared on Israel, was the breaking point for Balak’s persistence. His anger kindled, he rebuked Balaam and sent him back to his country. But Balaam, very likely still inspired by the Spirit of God to speak as he had done in his third discourse, had the last word; and so, unsolicited, he recited what Israel would do to Moab and other surrounding nations at a later time (24:14). (Ibid) NIVSB - This unexpected language indicates that God has overpowered the pagan prophet for his own purposes. Cf. note on Jdg 3:9,10. F B