Numbers 22:15-21

Does permission to travel remove the restriction on Balaam’s words?

Berean Standard Bible

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’” 18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 19 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.” 20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

What is the context?

Balak sends a more impressive delegation and promises great honor. Balaam says even a house full of silver and gold cannot allow him to go beyond the Lord’s command, yet asks the visitors to wait for a further answer.

God permits the journey with an express restriction: Balaam must do only what He says. Balaam then saddles his donkey and goes. The permission to travel is not permission to pronounce whatever curse the king pays for.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley follows wording in verse 20 that makes the invitation a condition and sees Balaam as failing to wait for it; the BSB instead renders the opening as since the men have come. His explanation therefore depends partly on a different reading of that sentence. The explicit restriction on Balaam’s action remains clear in the BSB.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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