Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.
Parallel translations
- WEB Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.
- KJV And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
- BSB Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
- NASB Then Balak sent representatives once again, more numerous and more distinguished than the previous.
- NLT Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Balak sends a larger and more honorable delegation to renew the request. He assumes a bigger offer will change Balaam's mind.
Overview
Balak interprets the refusal as a bargaining tactic and raises the stakes with more distinguished envoys. His persistence reveals the depth of his fear and his confidence that everything has a price. The escalating temptation will further expose Balaam's susceptibility to gain.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 22:7–8The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
- Acts 10:7–8When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 22:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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