And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.
Balaam returned to Balak, who was standing by his burnt sacrifice together with all the princes of Moab after the sacrifices had been ordered. Through His angel God had given Balaam the words of utterance to speak, so he had no power of his own to say anything except the word God gave him and came only to deliver that message. He was sustained by a divine power, so human applause and the fear of man were alike powerless to shake him from steadfastness. This gathering at the sacrifice formed the setting for his first oracle, which was spoken in solemn, prophetic style as blessing instead of curse.
He could not curse whom God had not cursed nor devote to destruction whom the Lord had not defied, because God had promised Israel prosperity. Israel was to remain a distinct people dwelling alone and not reckoned among the nations, never to be united with, swallowed up by, or lost in any other nation. Israel was to become far more numerous, with prosperity and strength. Balaam saw the end of the righteous as truly desirable and prophetically expressed the desire that his own last end might be like theirs. Balak conducted Balaam from one place to another in the vain hope of inducing him to change God's blessing of Israel into a curse, but failed completely.
Balaam returned to Balak, who was standing by his burnt sacrifice together with all the princes of Moab after the sacrifices had been ordered. Through His angel God had given Balaam the words of utterance to speak, so he had no power of his own to say anything except the word God gave him and came only to deliver that message. He was sustained by a divine power, so human applause and the fear of man were alike powerless to shake him from steadfastness. This gathering at the sacrifice formed the setting for his first oracle, which was spoken in solemn, prophetic style as blessing instead of curse.
He could not curse whom God had not cursed nor devote to destruction whom the Lord had not defied, because God had promised Israel prosperity. Israel was to remain a distinct people dwelling alone and not reckoned among the nations, never to be united with, swallowed up by, or lost in any other nation. Israel was to become far more numerous, with prosperity and strength. Balaam saw the end of the righteous as truly desirable and prophetically expressed the desire that his own last end might be like theirs. Balak conducted Balaam from one place to another in the vain hope of inducing him to change God's blessing of Israel into a curse, but failed completely.