Numbers 24:10
8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
- KJV
- And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
- WEB
- Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
- ASV
- And Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
- DARBY
- Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times!
- BLB
- And the anger of Balak was kindled against Balaam, and he struck together his hands. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have surely blessed [them] these three times.
- ÅB
- Da ble Balaks vrede tent opp mot Bileam, og han slo hendene sine sammen. Og Balak sa til Bileam: Jeg kalte deg hit for å forbanne mine fiender, og nå har du velsignet tre ganger.
- OTB
- Da brant Balaks vrede mot Bileam, og han slo hendene sammen og sa til Bileam: "Jeg kalte deg for å forbanne mine fiender, men du har velsignet dem disse tre gangene!
- B1930
- Da optendtes Balaks vrede mot Bileam, og han slo sine hender sammen. Og Balak sa til Bileam: Jeg kalte dig hit for å forbanne mine fiender, og nu har du velsignet tre ganger.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 21:14
‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!
Read in contextNumbers 23:11
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”
Read in contextEzekiel 21:17
I too will strike My hands together, and I will satisfy My wrath.’ I, the LORD, have spoken.”
Read in contextEzekiel 22:13
Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.
Read in contextNehemiah 13:2
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
Read in contextJob 27:23
It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
Read in contextJoshua 24:9–10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
Read in contextNumbers 22:11
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
Read in context