And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
Israel was encamped by the Jordan above the Dead Sea opposite Jericho on the very borders of Moab, after the Amorites who had forced Moab to retreat were conquered and territory taken from Moab had passed to Israel, and after the hosts and giant strongholds of Bashan had yielded to mysterious power enshrouded in the cloudy pillar and were occupied by the Hebrews. Terrified by that presence and daring not to risk attack in the face of supernatural agencies working for Israel, Moab determined, as Pharaoh had done, to enlist sorcery to counteract the work of God. Being closely connected with Midian by nationality and religion, Balak aroused the fears of that kindred people and secured their cooperation, warning that this company would lick up all round about as the ox licks up grass.
The elders of Moab and Midian were therefore sent on a long journey over mountains and deserts to Balaam in Mesopotamia, whose fame for supernatural powers had reached Moab, to secure his divinations and enchantments against Israel. Their plea was that a people come out from Egypt covering the face of the earth abode against Moab and, being too mighty, must be cursed so they might be smitten and driven out. They flattered him that whom he blessed is blessed and whom he cursed is cursed.
After Balaam reluctantly sent Balak's first messengers back because the Lord would not suffer him to go with them and had said he should not go and should not curse Israel for they are blessed, Balak sent another company. That second delegation was larger in number and more honourable and distinguished, occupying a more exalted position than the former messengers. It came with a more urgent call to let nothing hinder coming, promising promotion to very great honor and to do whatever Balaam said or asked.
Its purpose was to bring Balaam to curse Israel, and Balak mistook Balaam's delay for a desire for greater reward. The offer of higher honor and permission to demand whatever he wanted tested Balaam again and appealed to his longing for worldly gain. Balak then conducted Balaam from one point to another in the vain hope that he might be induced to change the blessing of Israel into a curse.
The verse exposes Balaam as double-minded, professing to be a prophet of God while pursuing a course to gain and retain the favor and honor of the enemies of the Lord for the sake of rewards. Selfishness and covetousness had entered his plans and displaced God from his heart so that he worked contrary to God. The larger and higher embassy appealed to his covetous disposition and his love of honor and worldly gain that was striving hard for mastery against his fear of God's power, though that fear still held the ascendency for the time.
The same pattern of sending again and again and trying to move a steadfast man appears later in the repeated efforts to move Luther from his decision. Human applause and the fear of man were alike powerless to shake him because he was sustained by a divine power.
Israel was encamped by the Jordan above the Dead Sea opposite Jericho on the very borders of Moab, after the Amorites who had forced Moab to retreat were conquered and territory taken from Moab had passed to Israel, and after the hosts and giant strongholds of Bashan had yielded to mysterious power enshrouded in the cloudy pillar and were occupied by the Hebrews. Terrified by that presence and daring not to risk attack in the face of supernatural agencies working for Israel, Moab determined, as Pharaoh had done, to enlist sorcery to counteract the work of God. Being closely connected with Midian by nationality and religion, Balak aroused the fears of that kindred people and secured their cooperation, warning that this company would lick up all round about as the ox licks up grass.
The elders of Moab and Midian were therefore sent on a long journey over mountains and deserts to Balaam in Mesopotamia, whose fame for supernatural powers had reached Moab, to secure his divinations and enchantments against Israel. Their plea was that a people come out from Egypt covering the face of the earth abode against Moab and, being too mighty, must be cursed so they might be smitten and driven out. They flattered him that whom he blessed is blessed and whom he cursed is cursed.
After Balaam reluctantly sent Balak's first messengers back because the Lord would not suffer him to go with them and had said he should not go and should not curse Israel for they are blessed, Balak sent another company. That second delegation was larger in number and more honourable and distinguished, occupying a more exalted position than the former messengers. It came with a more urgent call to let nothing hinder coming, promising promotion to very great honor and to do whatever Balaam said or asked.
Its purpose was to bring Balaam to curse Israel, and Balak mistook Balaam's delay for a desire for greater reward. The offer of higher honor and permission to demand whatever he wanted tested Balaam again and appealed to his longing for worldly gain. Balak then conducted Balaam from one point to another in the vain hope that he might be induced to change the blessing of Israel into a curse.
The verse exposes Balaam as double-minded, professing to be a prophet of God while pursuing a course to gain and retain the favor and honor of the enemies of the Lord for the sake of rewards. Selfishness and covetousness had entered his plans and displaced God from his heart so that he worked contrary to God. The larger and higher embassy appealed to his covetous disposition and his love of honor and worldly gain that was striving hard for mastery against his fear of God's power, though that fear still held the ascendency for the time.
The same pattern of sending again and again and trying to move a steadfast man appears later in the repeated efforts to move Luther from his decision. Human applause and the fear of man were alike powerless to shake him because he was sustained by a divine power.