Berean Standard Bible
Numbers 23:2
2So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Numbers 23:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
- New International Version (NIV)Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Context of Numbers 23:2
1Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.” So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height, 4and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
Read all of Numbers 23Numbers 23:2 word by word
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃Read the interlinear
- So Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
- didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- asכַּאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · as whichH834
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- had instructedדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- offeredעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
- a bullפַּרpar pâr · bullockH6499
- and a ramאַ֫יִל'ayil · ramH352
- on each altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
Cross-references for Numbers 23:2
Commentaries on Numbers 23:2
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-30As a diviner, Balaam carried out rituals to look for signs about the future of Israel (compare 23:23; 24:1). Balak had called him to curse Israel, but God repeatedly stopped him. These sacrifices might have related to extispicy. This was the practice of examining animal livers or other organs to predict the future. Ancient Near Eastern texts show that this fortune-telling method was common and well-developed. God had forbidden Israel from such practices…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars--Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country. It is evident, from Nu 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2Ki 18:22; Is 17:8; Jr 11:13; Ho 8:11; 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended…Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 23
- 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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Commentaries