Numbers 22:2

Numbers 22:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites.

Context of Numbers 22:2

1Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4So 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.

Numbers 22:2 word by word

וַיַּ֥רְא בָּלָ֖ק בֶּן־צִפּ֑וֹר אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָֽאֱמֹרִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Balakבָּלָקbâlâq · BalakH1111
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of Zipporצִפּוֹרtsippôr · ZipporH6834
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• all that Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• had doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• to the Amoritesאֱמֹרִי'ĕmôrîy · AmoriteH567

Cross-references for Numbers 22:2

• Numbers 21:3And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah.
• Judges 11:25And now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them?

Commentaries on Numbers 22:2

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Balak the son of Zippor - The comparison of Numbers 22:4 with Numbers 21:26 suggests that Balak was not the hereditary king but a Midianite, and that a change of dynasty had taken place. His father‘s name, Zippor, “Bird,” reminds us of those of other Midianites, e. g., Oreb, “Crow,” Zeeb, “Wolf.” Possibly the Midianite chieftains had taken advantage of the weakness of the Moabites after the Amorite victories to establish themselves as princes in the land.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3There is no mention of Balak outside of this event (Joshua 24:9; Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14). Sihon, the Amorite king, had taken over his territory (Numbers 21:26). Israel had just defeated Sihon (21:21–31). Balak might have thought his small kingdom would be next.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Balak--that is, "empty." Terrified (De 2:25; Ex 15:15) at the approach of so vast a multitude and not daring to encounter them in the field, he resolved to secure their destruction by other means.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 22:2

• Zippor

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Balak
• Crush
• Curse
• Lick
• Moabite
• Promote
• Zippor

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