The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.
Parallel translations
- WEB In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
- KJV And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
- NKJV So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might observe the extent of the people.
- NASB Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.
- NLT The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him.
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 takes Balaam up to the high places of Baal to view part of Israel. The setting prepares for the first oracle.
Overview
The 'high places of Baal' mark this as pagan worship territory, fitting Balak's hope of harnessing spiritual power. Seeing the people was thought to aid in pronouncing an effective curse. Instead, this vantage point becomes the place where God turns intended cursing into blessing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Num 23:13Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp—not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”
- Num 25:2–3who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.
- Num 21:28For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.
- 2 Chr 11:15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.
- Jer 48:35In Moab, declares the LORD, I will bring an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods.
- Deut 12:2Destroy completely all the places where the nations you are dispossessing have served their gods—atop the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.
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 22:41 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.