SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:23
Y el asna vio al ángel del SEÑOR, que estaba en el camino con su espada desnuda en su mano; y se apartó el asna del camino, e iba por el campo. Entonces Balaam azotó al asna para hacerla volver al camino.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:23
Verse 23. And the ass saw the angel] When God granted visions those alone who were particularly interested saw them while others in the same company saw nothing; see Dan. x. 7; Acts ix. 7.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way , etc.] Which Balaam did not; his eyes being held from seeing him by the power and providence of God, that he might be reproved and rebuked by his ass, to whom God gave power to see, more than to him, as Jarchi notes, so that he had little reason to boast of his visions and revelations, and that he was the man whose eyes were open: the angel stood in the very pathway on which the ass was carrying Balaam: and his sword drawn in his hand; as threatening to destroy him, and as if he was just about to push at him, and signifying hereby not only that he deserved to die, but what death he should die of, namely, by the sword, as he did, ( Numbers 31:8 Chronicles 21:16) and the ass turned aside out of the way ; out of the common road, to save its master and itself, from a natural principle of self-preservation: and went into the field; adjoining to, and that lay along the road side: and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way ; with his staff, as in ( Numbers 22:27) to bring her into the common road again.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-35 - We must not think, that because God does not always by his providenc restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is no hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed i preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really ou best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress i sinful ways. Balaam has notice of God's displeasure by the ass. It is common for those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil, to pus on violently, through the difficulties Providence lays in their way The Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle wrough by the power of God. He who made man speak, could, when he pleased make the ass to speak with man's voice. The ass complained of Balaam' cruelty. The righteous God does not allow the meanest or weakest to be abused; but they shall be able to speak in their own defence, or he will some way or other speak for them. Balaam at length has his eye opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and unhumbled heart When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful ways, an how much it was for our advantage to be crossed. Balaam seemed to relent; I have sinned; but it does not appear that he was sensible of this wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it. If he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content, since there is no remedy, to go back. Thus many leave their sins, only because their sins have lef them. The angel declared that he should not only be unable to curs Israel, but should be forced to bless them: this would be more for the glory of God, and to his own confusion, than if he had turned back.
Original Hebrew
ותרא 7200 האתון 860 את 853 מלאך 4397 יהוה 3068 נצב 5324 בדרך 1870 וחרבו 2719 שׁלופה 8025 בידו 3027 ותט 5186 האתון 860 מן 4480 הדרך 1870 ותלך 1980 בשׂדה 7704 ויך 5221 בלעם 1109 את 853 האתון 860 להטתה 5186 הדרך׃ 1870
