Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 24
Overview:
Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of
Israel.
(1-9) Balak dismisses
Balaam in
Anger.
(10-14) Balaam's
prophecies.
(15-25)
1-9 Now
Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the
Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have
not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That
knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to
Light
them to
Hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing
is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in
Israel,
their beauty. The righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than
his neighbour. Their fruitfulness and increase. Their honour and
advancement. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what
had been done for them.Their courage and security.
The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others,
but when at
Rest, because
God maketh them to
Dwell in safety.
Their influence upon their neighbours.
God takes what is done to
them, whether good or evil, as done to himself.
10-14 This vain attempt to
Curse Israel is ended.
Balak broke
out into a rage against
Balaam, and expressed great vexation.
Balaam has a very full excuse;
God restrained him from saying
what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he
would not have uttered.
15-25 Under the powerful influence of the
Spirit of
Prophecy,
Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of
Israel.
Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were
in old times called seers. He had heard the words of
God, which
many do who neither heed them, nor hear
God in them. He knew the
knowledge of the Most High. A
Man may be full of the knowledge
of
God, yet utterly destitute of the
Grace of
God. He calls
God
the Most High and the Almighty.
No Man could seem to express a
greater respect to
God; yet he had
No true fear of him,
Love to
him, nor
Faith in him;
So far a
Man may go toward
Heaven, and
yet come short of it at last. Here is
Balaam's
Prophecy
concerning Him who should be the
Crown and
Glory of his people
Israel; who is
David in the
Type; but our
Lord Jesus, the
promised
Messiah, is chiefly pointed at, and of him it is an
illustrious
Prophecy.
Balaam, a wicked
Man, shall see
Christ,
but shall not see him nigh; not see him as
Job, who saw him as
his
Redeemer, and saw him for himself. When he comes in the
clouds, every
Eye shall see him; but many will see him, as the
rich
Man in
Hell saw
Abraham, afar off. He shall come out of
Jacob, and
Israel, as a
Star and a
Sceptre; the former denoting
his
Glory and lustre; the latter his power and authority.
Christ
shall be
King, not only of
Jacob and
Israel, but of all the
world;
So that all shall be either governed
By his golden
Sceptre, or dashed in
Pieces By his
Iron rod.
Balaam prophesied
concerning the Amalekites and
Kenites, part of whose country he
had now in view. Even a nest in a
Rock will not be a lasting
security. Here is a
Prophecy that looks as far forward as to the
Greeks and
Romans. He acknowledges all the revolutions of states
and kingdoms to be the
Lord's doing. These events will make such
desolations, that scarcely any will escape. They that live then,
will be as brands plucked out of the
Fire. May
God fit us for
the worst of times! Thus
Balaam, instead of cursing the
Church,
curses
Amalek the first, and
Rome the last enemy of the
Church.
Not
Rome pagan only, but
Rome papal also;
Antichrist and all the
antichristian powers. Let us ask ourselves, Do we in knowledge,
experience, or profession, excel
Balaam?
No readiness of speech,
even in preaching or
Prayer,
No Gifts of knowledge or
Prophecy,
are in themselves different from, or superior to the boasted
Gifts of him who loved the
Wages of unrighteousness, and died
the enemy of
God. Simple dependence
On the
Redeemer's atoning
Blood and sanctifying
Grace, cheerful submission to the Divine
will, constant endeavours to
Glorify God and benefit his people,
these are less splendid, but far more excellent
Gifts, and
always accompany
Salvation.
No boasting
Hypocrite ever possessed
these; yet the feeblest believer has something of them, and is
daily praying for more of them.