Antiguo Testamento

Numbers — Capítulo 23

BALAK'S SACRIFICES. (Num. 23:1-30) 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…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Y Balaam dijo a Balac: Edifícame aquí siete altares, y prepárame aquí siete becerros y siete carneros.

2Balac hizo como le dijo Balaam; y ofrecieron Balac y Balaam un becerro y un carnero en cada altar.

3Y Balaam dijo a Balac: Ponte junto a tu holocausto, y yo iré; quizá Jehová me vendrá al encuentro, y cualquiera cosa que me mostrare, te avisaré. Y se fue a un monte descubierto.

4Y vino Dios al encuentro de Balaam, y este le dijo: Siete altares he ordenado, y en cada altar he ofrecido un becerro y un carnero.

5Y Jehová puso palabra en la boca de Balaam, y le dijo: Vuelve a Balac, y dile así.

6Y volvió a él, y he aquí estaba él junto a su holocausto, él y todos los príncipes de Moab.

7Y él tomó su parábola, y dijo: De Aram me trajo Balac, Rey de Moab, de los montes del oriente; Ven, maldíceme a Jacob, Y ven, execra a Israel.

8¿Por qué maldeciré yo al que Dios no maldijo? ¿Y por qué he de execrar al que Jehová no ha execrado?

9Porque de la cumbre de las peñas lo veré, Y desde los collados lo miraré; He aquí un pueblo que habitará confiado, Y no será contado entre las naciones.

10¿Quién contará el polvo de Jacob, O el número de la cuarta parte de Israel? Muera yo la muerte de los rectos, Y mi postrimería sea como la suya.

11Entonces Balac dijo a Balaam: ¿Qué me has hecho? Te he traído para que maldigas a mis enemigos, y he aquí has proferido bendiciones.

12Él respondió y dijo: ¿No cuidaré de decir lo que Jehová ponga en mi boca?

13Y dijo Balac: Te ruego que vengas conmigo a otro lugar desde el cual los veas; solamente los más cercanos verás, y no los verás todos; y desde allí me los maldecirás.

14Y lo llevó al campo de Zofim, a la cumbre de Pisga, y edificó siete altares, y ofreció un becerro y un carnero en cada altar.

15Entonces él dijo a Balac: Ponte aquí junto a tu holocausto, y yo iré a encontrar a Dios allí.

16Y Jehová salió al encuentro de Balaam, y puso palabra en su boca, y le dijo: Vuelve a Balac, y dile así.

17Y vino a él, y he aquí que él estaba junto a su holocausto, y con él los príncipes de Moab; y le dijo Balac: ¿Qué ha dicho Jehová?

18Entonces él tomó su parábola, y dijo: Balac, levántate y oye; Escucha mis palabras, hijo de Zipor:

19Dios no es hombre, para que mienta, Ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta. Él dijo, ¿y no hará? Habló, ¿y no lo ejecutará?

20He aquí, he recibido orden de bendecir; Él dio bendición, y no podré revocarla.

21No ha notado iniquidad en Jacob, Ni ha visto perversidad en Israel. Jehová su Dios está con él, Y júbilo de rey en él.

22Dios los ha sacado de Egipto; Tiene fuerzas como de búfalo.

23Porque contra Jacob no hay agüero, Ni adivinación contra Israel. Como ahora, será dicho de Jacob y de Israel: ¡Lo que ha hecho Dios!

24He aquí el pueblo que como león se levantará, Y como león se erguirá; No se echará hasta que devore la presa, Y beba la sangre de los muertos.

25Entonces Balac dijo a Balaam: Ya que no lo maldices, tampoco lo bendigas.

26Balaam respondió y dijo a Balac: ¿No te he dicho que todo lo que Jehová me diga, eso tengo que hacer?

27Y dijo Balac a Balaam: Te ruego que vengas, te llevaré a otro lugar; por ventura parecerá bien a Dios que desde allí me lo maldigas.

28Y Balac llevó a Balaam a la cumbre de Peor, que mira hacia el desierto.

29Entonces Balaam dijo a Balac: Edifícame aquí siete altares, y prepárame aquí siete becerros y siete carneros.

30Y Balac hizo como Balaam le dijo; y ofreció un becerro y un carnero en cada altar.

JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 3

I. Stand by thy burnt offering--as one in expectation of an important favor.

Stand by thy burnt offering--as one in expectation of an important favor. peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me--that is, makes known to me by word or sign. he went to an high place--apart by himself, where he might practise rites and ceremonies, with a view to obtain a response of the oracle.

Versículo 4

II. God met Balaam--not in compliance with his incantations, but to frustrate his wicked designs and …

God met Balaam--not in compliance with his incantations, but to frustrate his wicked designs and compel him, contrary to his desires and interests, to pronounce the following benediction [Num 23:8-10].

Versículo 7

III. took up his parable--that is, spoke under the influence of inspiration, and in the highly poetica…

took up his parable--that is, spoke under the influence of inspiration, and in the highly poetical, figurative, and oracular style of a prophet. brought me from Aram--This word joined with "the mountains of the East," denotes the upper portion of Mesopotamia, lying on the east of Moab. The East enjoyed an infamous notoriety for magicians and soothsayers (Isa 2:6).

Versículo 8

IV. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?--A divine blessing has been pronounced over the post…

How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?--A divine blessing has been pronounced over the posterity of Jacob; and therefore, whatever prodigies can be achieved by my charms, all magical skill, all human power, is utterly impotent to counteract the decree of God.

Versículo 9

V. from the top--literally, "a bare place" on the rocks, to which Balak had taken him, for it was de…

from the top--literally, "a bare place" on the rocks, to which Balak had taken him, for it was deemed necessary to see the people who were to be devoted to destruction. But that commanding prospect could contribute nothing to the accomplishment of the king's object, for the destiny of Israel was to be a distinct, peculiar people, separated from the rest of the nations in government, religion, customs, and divine protection (Deu 33:28). So that although I might be able to gratify your wishes against other people, I can do nothing against them (Exo 19:5; Lev 20:24).

Versículo 10

VI. Who can count the dust of Jacob?--an Oriental hyperbole for a very populous nation, as Jacob's po…

Who can count the dust of Jacob?--an Oriental hyperbole for a very populous nation, as Jacob's posterity was promised to be (Gen 13:16; Gen 28:14). the number of the fourth part of Israel--that is, the camp consisted of four divisions; every one of these parts was formidable in numbers. Let me die the death of the righteous--Hebrew, "of Jeshurun"; or, the Israelites. The meaning is: they are a people happy, above all others, not only in life, but at death, from their knowledge of the true God, and their hope through His grace. Balaam is a representative of a large class in the world, who express a wish for the blessedness which Christ has promised to His people but are averse to imitate the mind that was in Him.

Versículo 13

VII. Come, . . . with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them--Surprised and disappoin…

Come, . . . with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them--Surprised and disappointed at this unexpected eulogy on Israel, Balak hoped that, if seen from a different point of observation, the prophet would give utterance to different feelings; and so, having made the same solemn preparations, Balaam retired, as before, to wait the divine afflatus.

Versículo 14

VIII. he brought him into the field of Zophim . . . top of Pisgah--a flat surface on the summit of the …

he brought him into the field of Zophim . . . top of Pisgah--a flat surface on the summit of the mountain range, which was cultivated land. Others render it "the field of sentinels," an eminence where some of Balak's guards were posted to give signals [CALMET].

Versículo 18

IX. Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Num 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend …

Rise up--As Balak was already standing (Num 23:17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me." The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable; and no attempt to prevail on Him to reverse them will succeed, as they may with a man.

Versículo 21

X. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob--Many sins were observed and punished in this people. But no…

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob--Many sins were observed and punished in this people. But no such universal and hopeless apostasy had as yet appeared, to induce God to abandon or destroy them. the Lord his God is with him--has a favor for them. and the shout of a king is among them--such joyful acclamations as of a people rejoicing in the presence of a victorious prince.

Versículo 22

XI. he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn--Israel is not as they were at the Exodus, a horde …

he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn--Israel is not as they were at the Exodus, a horde of poor, feeble, spiritless people, but powerful and invincible as a reem--that is, a rhinoceros (Job 39:9; Psa 22:21; Psa 92:10).

Versículo 23

XII. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob--No art can ever prevail against a people who are un…

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob--No art can ever prevail against a people who are under the shield of Omnipotence, and for whom miracles have been and yet shall be performed, which will be a theme of admiration in succeeding ages.

Versículo 26

XIII. All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do--a remarkable confession that he was divinely constrai…

All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do--a remarkable confession that he was divinely constrained to give utterances different from what it was his purpose and inclination to do.

Versículo 28

XIV. Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor--or, Beth-peor (Deu 3:29), the eminence on which a temp…

Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor--or, Beth-peor (Deu 3:29), the eminence on which a temple of Baal stood. that looketh toward Jeshimon--the desert tract in the south of Palestine, on both sides of the Dead Sea. Next: Numbers Chapter 24

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