Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 22:37
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?
37. to promote thee to honour ] to honour thee; see on Num 22:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Balak said unto Balaam,…. Upon their meeting together:
did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? or “in sending send” u; the first messengers in a very pressing manner, with great importunity, to give thee an invitation to come to me, and those men of rank and quality, with rewards of divination in their hands, and yet the invitation was rejected; and after them other messengers, more in number and greater in dignity, with larger offers and promises; and now indeed thou art come, but with much ado, what is the meaning of all this?
wherefore camest thou not unto me? at first, without showing so much indifference and reluctance, and which obliged me to send another message to thee:
am I not able to promote thee to honour? to give thee wealth and riches, and put thee into high places of honour and profit? hadst thou any doubt in thy mind about it, either concerning my ability or will to do it?
u “mittendo misi”, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
37. Promote thee to honour After a gentle reproof for refusing his first invitation, Balak excites Balaam’s imagination by promises of honour. But instead of bestowing honours, Balak dismissed him in disgrace. Num 24:10-11; Mat 4:8-9.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“Am I not able to promote thee to honour?” Num 22:37
Balak had no other inspiration than worldly honour to offer. He could not understand any man being unmoved by such an offer. Herein Balak fitly represents the spirit of the whole world. Who can resist gold? or distinction? or influence? or a throne? The whole spirit of this temptation culminated in the attempt of the devil to win the homage of Jesus Christ by offering him the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. The world is making this very speech to every young man today. This, too, is the speech which many a man is addressing to the woman who is unworthy of his love. He will give her a name, a social status, and abundance of domestic comfort; he addresses no appeal to the companionship of the heart, the masonry of the mind, the desire for mutual growth in all sacred life and power. The man who can accept a bribe for his service proves that he will oppose that very service if a higher bribe be offered. He who will accept a bribe will give one. He who will tell lies for you will also tell lies to you. The spirit of Balak was reproduced in Simon Magus. He offered the apostles money if they would give unto him the Holy Ghost. There is no relation between material gifts and spiritual powers. They belong to different spheres. Even when material treasure is offered in recognition of spiritual benefit it must cover itself with contempt in the presence of the majesty it seeks to recognise. Ministers ought not to be bought for money. The poet should not abandon his harp because the money-spender is not listening to him. The princes of this world are never so thoroughly humbled as by the citizens of heaven. Alexander could do nothing for Diogenes. Abram would receive nothing from the King of Sodom, lest the king should put a wrong construction upon the deed. The living water is to be had without money and without price.
True honour cometh from God only.
“Them that honour me I will honour.” To receive honour from men is to blind the understanding, and shut out the true judgment. “How can ye believe which receive honour from one another?” If we are in quest of spiritual light and security we must bring a broken and a contrite heart, a spirit bowed down with humbleness, and a self-disposing soul. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
Num 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Ver. 37. To promote thee to honour. ] But what is such honour more than a magnum nihil, nay a great mischief? Like the wings of a butterfly curiously painted; but they foul the fingers of those that catch it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Did I not earnestly send. Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6), Hebrew “a sending did I not send”. See note on Gen 26:28.
am I not able . . . ? Vain boast! Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I am not able, Num 22:16, Num 22:17, Num 24:11, Psa 75:6, Mat 4:8, Mat 4:9, Luk 4:6, Joh 5:44
Reciprocal: Num 22:14 – Balaam refuseth Dan 2:6 – ye shall