King James Version

What Does Numbers 22:5 Mean?

“He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: face: Heb. eye”

Context

And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: face: Heb. eye

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Balaam the son of Beor.—**The name of Balaam is probably derived from *bala *(to devour), with the terminal syllable *am, *or from the two words *bala *(*he *devoured), and *am *(people). His father’s name (*Beor*)*, *from *baar *(to consume), has been thought to denote that Balaam belonged to a family in which the magical art was hereditary. He is described in Joshua 13:22 as “the soothsayer” (Hebrew, *kosem*)—i.e., one of that class of persons who were not to be tolerated amongst the Israelites, and who are spoken of as “an abomination unto the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). The form *Bosor *(2Peter 2:15) probably arose from a peculiar mode of pronouncing the guttural letter *Ain *in *baar. *(See Keil, *On the Pentateuch, *3 p. 159, and Note.) On the character and history of Balaam, reference may be made to Bishop Butler (Serm. vii.); Waterland (Works, 9:397); Keil, *On the Pentateuch, *in loc.; Hengstenberg (*Dissertation on the Histories and Prophecies of Balaam, *p. 747, Clark, 1848); and to the Article in Smith’s *Dictionary of the Bible, *by Professor Stanley Leathes. **To Pethor, which is *by **the river of the land . . . —*Better, *To Pethor, which is by the river, *(even to) *the land of the children of his people. *Pethcr was in Mesopotamia (Numbers 23:7), where Lot, from whom the Moabites were descended, had dwelt (Genesis 12:5). “The river” is the Euphrates here, as elsewhere. (See, *e.g., *Genesis 15:18; Genesis 31:21; Exodus 23:31; 2Chronicles 9:26.) **They cover the face of the earth.—**Literally, *the eye of the earth *(or, *the land*)*. *(Comp. Exodus 10:5.)

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 22:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.