Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 23:23
Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Enchantment … divination – More strictly augury and soothsayers token, or the omen that was superstitiously observed. Soothsayer is the term applied to Balaam in Jos 13:22.
The verse intimates that the seer was at last, through the overruling of his own auguries, compelled to own what, had he not been blinded by avarice and ambition, he would have discerned before – that there Was an indisputable interference of God on Israels behalf, against which all arts and efforts of man must prove vain. The sense suggested by margin (i. e., that the soothsayers art was not practiced in Israel) would be strictly true (compare the Num 23:4 note).
According … – Rather, in due time it shall be told to Jacob, etc. God will, through His own divinely appointed means (e. g. the Urim and Thummim), reveal to Israel, as occasion may require, His will and purposes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. There is no enchantment, c.] Because God has determined to save them, therefore no enchantment can prevail against them.
According to this time, c.] I think this clause should be read thus: “As at this time it shall be told to Jacob and to Israel what God worketh” i. e., this people shall always have prophetic information of what God is about to work. And indeed, they are the only people under heaven who ever had this privilege. When God himself designed to punish them because of their sins, he always forewarned them by the prophets and also took care to apprise them of all the plots of their enemies against them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I find by experience and serious consideration that all mine and thine endeavours to enchant Israel are in vain, being frustrated by their omnipotent God. I can do thee no service by my art against them.
According to this time; not only in succeeding times and ages, of which he speaks, Num 24:17, &c., but even now, in this time and age, and so forward.
What hath God wrought!, i.e. how wonderful and glorious are those works which God is now about to do for Israel, by drying up Jordan, by subduing the Canaanites, &c.! These things will be matter of discourse and admiration to all ages.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. Surely there is no enchantmentagainst JacobNo art can ever prevail against a people who areunder the shield of Omnipotence, and for whom miracles have been andyet shall be performed, which will be a theme of admiration insucceeding ages.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel,…. Balaam here owns, that all his enchantments and divinations signified nothing, and would never prevail to bring a curse upon Israel; it was a vain thing for him to use them, and as vain for Balak to expect anything from them; neither he nor any other enchanter and soothsayer, using all the arts they are masters of, could ever do any hurt to such a people, who were the peculiar care of God, and were his church, against which the gates of hell could not prevail: or “in Jacob” and “in Israel” m; and this is the sense of all the Targums, that there are no enchantments nor enchanters, no divinations nor diviners in Israel; these were not agreeable to them, nor suffered among them, and therefore they were acceptable and well pleasing in the sight of God and indeed this sense agrees both with the literal version of the words, and is the sense Jarchi gives of them; that these people were fit for the blessing, because there were no enchanters and diviners among them; though he mentions another, and that is, that Israel had no need of enchanters and diviners, and of their enchantments and divinations, because they had the prophets to inform them, and the Urim and Thummim to declare things unto them:
according to this time it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel, what hath God wrought! as with respect to this time as well as to time past, and with respect to time to come, even with respect to all times; it shall be said with wonder and amazement, what great things has God done for this people! as bringing them out of the land of Egypt, leading them through the Red sea, feeding and supplying them in the wilderness, protecting them from their enemies there, expelling the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and setting them there in their stead; and wonderful things has God done for his spiritual Israel, in the redemption of them by Christ, in the beginning and carrying on the work of grace upon their hearts, by his Spirit; and at last he will bring them all to the heavenly Canaan of rest and happiness, and where this will be matter of admiration with them to all eternity, what has God done for us!
m “in Jahacob, in Israel”, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
23. Surely there is no enchantment. This passage is commonly expounded as an encomium on the people, because they are not given to enchantments and magical superstitions, as God also had strictly enjoined upon them in His law that they should not pollute themselves by such defilements. Others thus explain it, The Israelites shall not want enchanters, because by the Urim and Thummim, or by the Prophets, God would reveal to them whatever should be profitable for them. Their opinion is more correct who thus interpret it, No enchantment and no divination avails against the Israelites. Let us now proceed to explain this more clearly. Balaam, in my judgment, confesses that there is no room for His enchantments, or that his customary arts fail him now, because their efficacy and power cannot affect the Israelites. And this confession harmonizes with the words of Pharaoh’s magicians, when they said, “This is the finger of God,” (Exo 8:19😉 after they had pertinaciously contended, until God compelled them to yield. Thus now Balaam declares that the elect people were defended from on high, so that his divinations were ineffectual, and his enchantments vain.
The other clause of the verse appears to me to be simply to this effect, that God would henceforth perform mighty works for the defense of His people which should be related with admiration. The translation which some give is constrained and far-fetched, “As at this time it shall be said, What has God wrought in Israel?” for Balaam rather would say, that great should be the progress of God’s grace, the beginnings only of which then appeared; and in short, he declares that henceforth memorable should be the performances of God in behalf of His people, which should supply abundant subjects for history.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(23) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob . . . The verse may be rendered as follows: For there is no augury in Jacob, and there is no divina-Hon in Israel. At the (set) time it is told to Jacob and to Israel what God hath done (or, doth). The ordinary meaning of the words nahash (omen, or augury) and kesem (soothsaying, or divination), the use of the same preposition in Num. 23:21 which is there rendered in, and more especially the second clause of the verse, seem to decide the meaning of the former clause to be as it is here given. The Israelites had no need of augury and divination, seeing that God revealed to them His acts. His counsel, and His will. What is here affirmed of Israel, says Hengstenberg, applies to the Church of all ages, and also to every individual believer. The Church of God knows from His own Word what God does, and what it has to do in consequence. The wisdom of this world resembles augury and divination. The Church of God, which is in possession of His word, has no need of it. (History of Balaam and his Prophecies, p. 441).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Num 23:23. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, &c. Here the prophet bursts forth in a noble rapture, and declares to Balak, and the nobles around, that all their impious machinations were in vain against a people whom the Lord had determined to bless. So in Proverbs, ch. Num 21:30 it is said, There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor council against the Lord. Houbigant renders the last clause, In its time it shall be told, what the God of Jacob and Israel may do, or be about to do. This verse seems in the Hebrew to depend upon the foregoing; They have, as it were, the strength of the unicorn; because , ki, there is no enchantment, &c. In due time it shall be told to Jacob, and Israel, what the Lord is about to do: and, most probably, the next verse refers to that which the people were to do by the assistance of God; that is, to achieve the complete conquest of Canaan: but concerning which we refer to the similar passage in the next chapter, 8th and 9th verses. The ingenious reader need not be informed, that these prophecies of Balaam, like the other pieces of ancient poetry in Scripture, are written in alternate metre. See Dr. Lowth’s Praelect. Poet. 4. 41. 20. 206. &c. 4to. The version which we have followed, puts us in mind of a noble saying of Epictetus, (considering him as a Heathen,) quoted by Mr. Saurin. “The croaking of the raven does not concern me; suppose it forebodes that I should lose something; one of the members of my body, if you please: what then? is it not always in my own power to be an honest man? ravens have no influence over my virtue.”
REFLECTIONS.Not discouraged by one disappointment, this restless enemy of God’s people renews his attempts against them, hoping that another place and sacrifice might be more successful, and that he might prevail against a part of the hosts of Israel, if not against the whole. Balaam, as before, goes to meet the Lord, and returns to answer Balak’s inquiry with a message yet more confounding. They who persist in the ways of sin, will surely find every successive day repeated and bitterer disappointments. Balaam summons the King’s solemn attention; for who dares trifle when God is speaking by his servants? 1. He pronounces the will of God. Israel is secure in the divine faithfulness, and the object of the divine regard. 2. He declares their power irresistible. Since God is for them and with them, opposition is vain. Note; It is our comfort to think, amidst every attack of our spiritual enemies, that the everlasting arms of the omnipotent God are under us. 3. He foretels the ravages they should make among the nations, like a great lion amidst the defenceless flocks; so that their foes in amazement, and themselves in triumph, shall cry, “What hath God wrought!” Note; (1.) God’s wonders of grace will, to eternity, be the matter of his people’s triumphant songs. (2.) Where Jesus our King is in the midst of us, we shall assuredly go onconquering and to conquer. 4. He owns the vanity of his own enchantments, and the fruitlessness of every other person’s attempt. Even the enemies of God’s people shall at last be made to confess their impotence to hurt them. Vicisti Galilaee.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 23:23 Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
Ver. 23. Surely there is no enchantment. ] No looking for signs of good luck, as Num 24:1 . The gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
no enchantment: Num 22:6, Num 24:1, Gen 3:15, Mat 12:25, Mat 12:27, Mat 16:18, Luk 10:18, Luk 10:19, Rom 16:20, Rev 12:9
against: or, in
according: Psa 44:1-3, Psa 136:13-20, Isa 63:9-12, Dan 9:15, Mic 6:4, Mic 6:5, Mic 7:15
What hath: Psa 31:19, Psa 64:9, Psa 126:2, Psa 126:3, Isa 41:4, Joh 11:47, Act 4:16, Act 5:12, Act 5:14, Act 10:38, Act 15:12, Gal 1:23, Gal 1:24, 1Th 1:8, 1Th 1:9
Reciprocal: Gen 21:7 – Who Exo 6:1 – Now shalt Lev 1:3 – a burnt Num 1:28 – General Num 22:12 – thou shalt not curse Num 23:8 – General Num 24:23 – when God Deu 32:31 – General Neh 6:16 – for they perceived Psa 28:5 – operation Psa 46:8 – Come Psa 66:5 – Come Psa 105:1 – make known Psa 109:28 – Let them Isa 41:20 – General Mar 12:11 – General Act 9:21 – amazed 2Th 1:10 – to be glorified
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 23:23. No enchantment against Jacob Nor against any that truly believe in Christ! What hath God wrought! How wonderful and glorious are those works which God is now about to do for Israel! These things will be a matter of discourse and admiration to all ages.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:23 Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: {k} according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
(k) Considering what God will work this time for the deliverance of his people, all the world will wonder.