Berean Standard Bible
Numbers 22:4
4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
Numbers 22:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
- New International Version (NIV)The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Context of Numbers 22:4
2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, 5he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
Read all of Numbers 22Numbers 22:4 word by word
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עַתָּ֞ה יְלַחֲכ֤וּ הַקָּהָל֙ אֶת־כָּל־סְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּלְחֹ֣ךְ הַשּׁ֔וֹר אֵ֖ת יֶ֣רֶק הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּבָלָ֧ק בֶּן־צִפּ֛וֹר מֶ֥לֶךְ לְמוֹאָ֖ב בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽוא׃Read the interlinear
- So the Moabitesמוֹאָבmô'âb · MoabH4124
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
- of Midianמִדְיָןmidyân · MidianH4080
- of Midianעַתָּ֫ה‛attâh · nowH6258
- This hordeקָהָלqâhâl · assemblyH6951
- ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
- will devourלָחַךְlâchak · to lickH3897
- everythingכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- around usסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
- as an oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
- the grassיֶ֫רֶקyereq · greenH3418
- of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
- Since Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834
- was kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- at thatהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
- timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
Cross-references for Numbers 22:4
- Numbers 22:7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
- Numbers 25:15And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.
- Numbers 31:8Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
- Joshua 13:21all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land.
- Numbers 24:17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
- Jeremiah 48:38On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,” declares the LORD.
- Numbers 22:2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
- Judges 11:25Are you now so much better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?
Commentaries on Numbers 22:4
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Midian: This desert people descended from Abraham (Genesis 25:1–2; Exodus 2:15–16). Their agreement with Moab started their conflicts with Israel (Numbers 22:7; see 25:6, 14–18; 31:2–10; Judges 6–8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. elders of Midian--called kings (Nu 31:8) and princes (Jos 13:21). The Midianites, a distinct people on the southern frontier of Moab, united with them as confederates against Israel, their common enemy.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 22:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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