Numbers - 23:2



2 Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Numbers 23:2.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they laid together a calf and a ram upon every altar.
And Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered up a bullock and a ram on each altar.
And Balak doth as Balaam hath spoken, and Balak, Balaam also, offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar,
And Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam made an offering on every altar of an ox and a male sheep.
And when he had acted according to the words of Balaam, they placed a calf and a ram together on each altar.
Fecitque Balac quemadmodum dixerat Balaam, et obtulit Balac et Balaam juvencum et arietem in altari.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and (a) Balak and Balaam offered on [every] altar a bullock and a ram.
(a) For among the Gentiles the kings often used to sacrifice, as did the priests.

And Balak did as Balaam had spoken,.... Ordered seven altars to be built, and prepared seven bullocks and rams for sacrifice:
and Balak and Balsam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram; both seem to be concerned in offering the sacrifices; Balak, though a king, it being usual for kings to be priests also, as Melchizedek was, and Balaam as a prophet; and these sacrifices were offered to the true God, as seems clear from Numbers 23:4 and to which Balak, at the direction of Balaam, agreed, in order to gain the Lord on his side, that he might prevail over the people of Israel.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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