So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Parallel translations
- WEB Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
- KJV And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
- NKJV And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
- NASB Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
- NLT Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.
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 follows Balaam's instructions, and together they offer a bull and ram on each altar. The pagan ceremony proceeds in full.
Overview
The cooperation of king and seer in the sacrifices shows their shared determination to secure a curse. The offerings represent the best human religion can muster against God's purpose. The narrative builds expectation, only to overturn it when Balaam can speak nothing but blessing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
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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 23:2 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.