John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And Balaam said unto Balak , etc.] When upon one of the high places of Baal, and after having taken a view of the people of Israel as they lay encamped: build me here seven altars ; this was purely Heathenish; for not only the Israelites after the law of Moses had but one altar, but the patriarchs before that never built but one altar at a time. Some have thought regard is had to the seven planets worshipped by Heathens; though no doubt Balaam pretended to sacrifice to Jehovah the true God, in order to gain him over to him to agree to it to curse Israel, and persuaded Balak, though an idolater, to join with him; and, the more easily to bring him to it, mixes Heathen rites and customs in sacrifice to him: and prepare me here seven oxen, and seven rams ; which were creatures offered in sacrifice according to the law of Moses, and before that was given, and by persons who were not under it; and even by seven of each sort, and that by the express command of God, ( Job 42:8). It may be observed, that both in this, and the preceding clause, the word here is carefully expressed, namely, in one of the high places; there the altars were erected, and thither the oxen were brought to be sacrificed; so that both the place, and the number of the altars, savoured of Heathenish worship, in which he complied to induce the king to sacrifice to Jehovah.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, is love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, an therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, wh would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaa pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffere him to do. He pronounces them happy in their distinction from the res of the nations. Happy in their numbers, which made them both honourabl and formidable. Happy in their last end. Death is the end of all men even the righteous must die, and it is good for us to think of thi with regard to ourselves, as Balaam does here, speaking of his ow death. He pronounces the righteous truly blessed, not only while the live, but when they die; which makes their death even more desirabl than life itself. But there are many who desire to die the death of the righteous, but do not endeavour to live the life of the righteous gladly would they have an end like theirs, but not a way like theirs They would be saints in heaven, but not saints on earth. This saying of Balaam's is only a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only wish for the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quie their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of salvation, by whic a sinner can be righteous before God.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 בלעם1109 אל413 בלק1111 בנה1129 לי בזה2088 שׁבעה7651 מזבחת4196 והכן3559 לי בזה2088 שׁבעה7651 פרים6499 ושׁבעה7651 אילים׃352
