O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
Study Helps
Interpretation
The people are called upon to declare why they were weary of God's worship, and prone to idolatry. Sin causes the controversy between God and man.
Glossary
- Balaam Person
- Lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites ( Num. 31:8 ; comp. 16). He resided at Pethor ( Deut. 23:4 ), in Mesopotamia ( Num. 23:7 ).
- Balak Person
- Empty; spoiler, a son of Zippor, and king of the Moabites ( Num. 22:2 , 4). From fear of the Israelites, who were encamped near the confines of his territory, he applied to Balaam (q. v. ) to curse them; but in vain.
- Beor Person
- A torch. (1. ) The father of Bela, one of the kings of Edom ( Gen. 36:32 ). (2. ) The father of Balaam ( Num. 22:5 ; 24:3 , 15; 31:8). In 2 Pet. 2:15 he is called Bosor.
- Gilgal Place
- Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Mefjir.
- Moab Place
- Biblical region. Modern identification: Kerak.
- Shittim Place
- Acacias, also called “Abel-shittim”. Modern identification: Tall el Hammam.