Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 22:38
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Verse 38. The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.] Here was a noble resolution, and he was certainly faithful to it: though he wished to please the king, and get wealth and honour, yet he would not displease God to realize even these bright prospects. Many who slander this poor semi-antinomian prophet, have not half his piety.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Any thing, to wit, agreeable to thy expectation or my own inclination.
That shall I speak; I am forced to do so by his superior power, and therefore be not offended with me, if I speak things unpleasing to thee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. the word that God putteth in mymouth, that shall I speakThis appears a pious answer. It wasan acknowledgment that he was restrained by a superior power.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak, lo, I am come unto thee,…. And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things,
have I now any power at all to say anything? that would be agreeable to the king, and answer his purpose in sending for him, namely, to curse the people of Israel; he suggests that he had not, he was under the powerful restraint of God; he could not say what he himself was inclined to say, and what the king would have him say, and he expected he should; he could not say as some in Ps 12:4: the word
that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak; whether agreeable to Balak’s will and design or not, and whether for or against Israel: however, it being expressed in such indefinite terms might leave room for Balak to hope it might answer his expectations and wishes.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But Balaam, being still mindful of the warning which he had just received from God, replied, “ Lo, I am come unto thee now: have I then any power to speak anything (sc., of my own accord)? “ The word which God puts into my mouth, that will I speak.” With this reply he sought, at the very outset, to soften down the expectations of Balak, inasmuch as he concluded at once that his coming was a proof of his willingness to curse (Hengstenberg). As a matter of fact, Balaam did not say anything different to the king form what he had explained to his messengers at the very first (cf. Num 22:18). But just as he had not told them the whole truth, but had concealed the fact that Jehovah, his God, had forbidden the journey at first, on the ground that he was not to curse the nation that was blessed (Num 22:12), so he could not address the king in open, unambiguous words.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
38. That shall I speak With this reply he sought, at the very outset, to soften down the expectations of Balak, inasmuch as he concluded at once that his coming was a proof of his willingness to curse. For the angel with his drawn sword was still before his eyes, and the miraculous words were sounding in his ears, and he dared not do otherwise than as he was commanded. It is a singular fact that we find the remainder of this interesting dialogue not in the Mosaic record but in the prophet Micah, Mic 6:5-8; Num 22:6-7, disclose the agony of the king, and Num 22:8 the lofty conceptions of the Gentile seer. This reply of Balaam breathes a spirit of righteousness as lofty as any utterance found in Mosaism.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lo. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6).
have I. ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6).
God = ‘Elohim. Not Jehovah. Note this, and see App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
have I: Num 22:18, Psa 33:10, Psa 76:10, Pro 19:21, Isa 44:25, Isa 46:10, Isa 47:12
the word: Num 23:16, Num 23:26, Num 24:13, 1Ki 22:14, 2Ch 18:13
Reciprocal: Exo 4:15 – and I Num 23:12 – General Num 23:20 – I cannot Num 24:12 – General Jdg 7:14 – his fellow Jer 1:7 – for thou shalt Act 4:20 – we cannot
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
OBEDIENCE WITHOUT LOVE
The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Num 22:38
The first and most general account of Balaam would be this: that he was a very eminent person in his age and country, that he was courted and gained by the enemies of Israel, that he promoted a wicked cause in a very wicked way, that he counselled the Moabites to employ their women as a means of seducing the chosen people into idolatry, and that he fell in battle in the war which ensued. Yet when we look into Balaams history closely, we shall find points of character which may well interest those who do not consider his beginning and his end.
I. He was blessed with Gods especial favour. Not only had he the grant of inspiration and the knowledge of Gods will and an insight into the truths of morality clear and enlarged such as we Christians cannot surpass, but he was even admitted to conscious intercourse with God, such as we Christians have not.
II. Balaam was, in the ordinary sense of the word, a very conscientious man. He prayed before taking a new step. He strictly obeyed the commands of God. He said and he did, he acted according to his professions. He showed no inconsistency in word or deed.
III. The strange thing is that while he so spoke and acted, he seemed as in one sense to be in Gods favour, so in another and higher to be under His displeasure. Balaam obeyed God from a sense of its being right to do so, but not from a desire to please Him, not from fear and love. His endeavour was, not to please God, but to please self without displeasing God, to pursue his own ends as far as was consistent with his duty. Hence he was not content with ascertaining Gods will; he attempted to change it. His asking twice was tempting God. As a punishment God gave him leave to ally himself with His enemies and take part against His people.
IV. The following reflections are suggested by the history of Balaam: (1) We see how little we can depend in judging of right and wrong on the apparent excellence and high character of individuals. (2) We sin without being aware of it, yet wrath is abroad and in our paths. (3) When we have begun an evil course, we cannot retrace our steps. (4) God gives us warnings now and then, but does not repeat them. Balaams sin consisted in not acting on what was told him once for all.
Illustration
Even when we have started on our perverse road the angel of the Lord stands to resist us and turn us back; we may not at first detect his form and uplifted sword, but they are there. In His love, God makes the way of transgressors hard, and hedges up their way with thorns. It was a true word that Balaam spoke, but it was spoken in the wrong place. He was off Gods plan. Nevertheless it is true that we can only speak with power those words which God puts into our lips.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say {s} any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
(s) On my own I can say nothing, I will only speak what God reveals, whether it is good or bad.