Numbers 22:2

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

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Interpretation

The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; that is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had a false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upon them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, that then he should be able to deal with them.

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This thought runs through Numbers 22:2-4.

Numbers 22:2 Numbers 22:3 Numbers 22:4

Glossary

Amorites People: Highlanders, or hillmen, the name given to the descendants of one of the sons of Canaan ( Gen. 14:7 ), called Amurra or Amurri in the Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions.
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.
Zippor Person: A little bird, the father of Balak, king of Moab ( Num. 22:2 , 4).