John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And when Balsam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel , etc.] That it was good in his sight, what he approved of, and was well-pleasing to him, and that it was his determined mind that Israel should be blessed, and not cursed, from which there was no turning him, by offering sacrifices to him, and much less by his sorceries and divinations: he went not as at other times ; or, “as at a time in a time” f372 , at two times, of which (see Numbers 23:3,15), he abode in the place where the sacrifices were offered, and did not depart to another at some distance, as he had twice before done: to seek for enchantments ; which it seems he used before, for he not only offered sacrifices to the true God, which yet were attended with superstitious rites, but he made use of his divining art also; and not only went to meet with God, and hear what he would say to him, but consulted the devil also, being willing to have two strings to his bow, and that, if possible, he might carry his point, and get what his covetous and ambitious mind was desirous of: the words may be literally rendered, “to meet enchantments” f373 ; but what should be meant by the phrase is not easy to say; I should rather choose to render them, “to meet serpents”, and make use of them in his divinations, make observations on them, and predictions from them: one sort of divination is called “ophiomancy”, or divining by serpents; so Calchas, on seeing a serpent devour eight sparrows with their dam, foretold the duration of the siege of Troy f374 : but he set his face towards the wilderness : where the people of Israel lay encamped, not with an intention to bless them, though he saw it pleased the Lord, but to take an opportunity, if he could, without his leave, to curse them; and therefore he did not go out as he did before, to know his will, but stood by the sacrifice, with his face to the wilderness, where the people were, to take any advantage that offered.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit tha came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their heart open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puff men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither man go with their eyes open. The blessing is nearly the same as those give before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous, doubtless is more excellent than his neighbour. Their fruitfulness and increase Their honour and advancement. Their power and victory. He looks bac upon what had been done for them. Their power and victory. He look back upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when a rest, because God maketh them to dwell in safety. Their influence upo their neighbours. God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil as done to himself. (Nu 24:10-14)
Original Hebrew וירא7200 בלעם1109 כי3588 טוב2895 בעיני5869 יהוה3068 לברך1288 את853 ישׂראל3478 ולא3808 הלך1980 כפעם6471 בפעם6471 לקראת7125 נחשׁים5173 וישׁת7896 אל413 המדבר4057 פניו׃6440
