Then Balaam said, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
- KJV And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
- NKJV Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”
- NASB And Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
- NLT Balaam again told Balak, “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”
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
Balaam again directs Balak to build seven altars and prepare seven bulls and rams, repeating the sacrificial ritual a third time in his attempt to curse Israel. It shows his persistence in using pagan-style sacrifice to manipulate God's response.
Overview
After two failed attempts to curse Israel, Balaam tries once more, moving to a new site and again calling for the sevenfold offering. The repeated ritual reflects the ancient assumption that the right sacrifices could bend a deity's will, but the narrative will show that the LORD cannot be coerced. Israel's protection rests not on Balaam's skill but on God's unbreakable promise to bless His covenant people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Num 23:1–2Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
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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 23:29 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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