The Blessings and Curse of Balaam

Conclusion: We have a real bronze snake shows after Miariam and Aaron’s and most of first generation = Yet unlike the old generation, this one shows a willingness to quickly repent (Num. 21:7). healed, vows to take land dedicate… Edom denies .. yet journey through Edom. Then Moab and egnages in battle - brother whose conflict began with food, vs. promised inhertiance; Israel’s first gen failed with water and food and pass here not giving into bodily cravings… Israel fasts to make progress to its goal! = Fasting is common to all religions. While it has several related meanings, the center of the practice is controlling bodily desires to better achieve the higher purposes of life. “The intention of fasting is to purify the body by abstaining from eating and drinking in excess in order to control our ‘appetites’ and ‘desires.’ ” Jesus began his own ministry with fasting (Matt. 4:2) and resisted the temptation to be a Messiah who would appeal simply to the physical needs and desires of his followers: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (4:4). Similarly, Israel begins to move more positively toward the promised land by its own willingness to deal with bodily desires. Even though the way is still blocked by Edom, Israel’s actions for once do not result in punishment.Eleazar down Mt. Hor with Moses = sign of hope, Miriam died end of 5h, Aaron now 6th testing… Then Snake… Now at Hormah after 38 years before defeat, victory 21:4-9 vicotry and VOW at Hor = nation as Nazarite, saying dedicated = HEREM = utterly destory all people, livestock, things in town, RATHER THAN WAR BOOTY… value of stuff substantial, but seen as matter of justice, HEREM = not unique to Israel.. destruction of Cananites considered a great sacrafice to God, offered in thaks for the blessing of God in success… = zeal and self-sacrficial attitue, yet justify war? … 21:10-35 Herem? Reversal of Fortune: to Moab against Sihon and Og KEY = after vow at Hormah and raising of Bronze Serpent Israel no longer faces misfortunes! BUT overcomes enemies with the help of the LORD! Wilderness drawing to close = last 3rd Mt Hor to edge of proimseleand = plains of Moab. Beginning of final par tof journey!

​The New American Commentary: Numbers (4) Journey through Moab (21:10–20)The intent of the narrative in 21:10–11 is to progress quickly through the region, circumnavigating Edom, arriving at the eastern side of Moab on the edge of the desert, and then proceeding on to the Amorite regions of Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. From there they moved northward along the perimeter of Moab to a camp in the Zered Valley and then the Arnon Valley. The upper reaches of the Arnon River were situated on the edge of the Jordanian desert and marked the frontier boundary between the Moabites to the south and the Amorites to the north. The fourfold verbal sequencing of terms meaning “moved on, set out” (wayyisĕʿû [2×] and nāsāʿû [2×], “they set out, disembarked”) and “camped” (wayyaḥănû [4×]) recalls the words of the original song of the Israelite march as recorded in Num 9:17–23 that “at the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command then encamped.” Having sought the Lord faithfully in the case of the bronze serpent, they were prepared to follow him faithfully on their journey through Transjordan and to experience again the joy of victory.

​The New American Commentary: Numbers (4) Journey through Moab (21:10–20)The intent of the narrative in 21:10–11 is to progress quickly through the region, circumnavigating Edom, arriving at the eastern side of Moab on the edge of the desert, and then proceeding on to the Amorite regions of Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan. From there they moved northward along the perimeter of Moab to a camp in the Zered Valley and then the Arnon Valley. The upper reaches of the Arnon River were situated on the edge of the Jordanian desert and marked the frontier boundary between the Moabites to the south and the Amorites to the north. The fourfold verbal sequencing of terms meaning “moved on, set out” (wayyisĕʿû [2×] and nāsāʿû [2×], “they set out, disembarked”) and “camped” (wayyaḥănû [4×]) recalls the words of the original song of the Israelite march as recorded in Num 9:17–23 that “at the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command then encamped.” Having sought the Lord faithfully in the case of the bronze serpent, they were prepared to follow him faithfully on their journey through Transjordan and to experience again the joy of victory.

THREE SONGS TO END REBELLION GENERATION: Together these three songs provide an overarching inclusio near the end of the rebellion cycles with the song Moses sang when Israel first departed Sinai (10:35–36). Indeed hymnic composition in conjunction with victory marches was a common tradition throughout the history of Israel. It seems to have begun with Moses and Miriam after the crossing of the Sea (Exod 15:1–21), continued with the marching and camping song when the Israelites were preparing to depart Mount Sinai (Num 9:16–23), and is evident in the numerous psalms composed by David in response to the great victories the Lord wrought on his behalfMOST CELEBRATED VICTORY OF ISRAEL = Diplomacy first, but then conquest since God with!This time the story begins much the same, and the initial response of the Amorites was like that of the Edomites to the south, but the repartee of Israel and the final outcome are quite the opposite. Victory, conquest, and celebration became the allotment for Israel, especially when Yahweh their God gave them confidence and fought for them. This account became one of the most remembered victories in the history of Israel. The account of this campaign in Deut 2:24–37 details the direction Moses was given by the Lord before sending the messengers to Sihon, so the engagement that followed was not done without the Lord’s blessing.Deut 2:30 God hardened Amorite king, Sihon’s (45m Arnon to Jabbok R.) heart like wicked Pharaoh… territorial supremacy from the Late Bronze Age through the Iron Ages. The Egyptians, Moabites, Ammonites, Amorites, the Israelites of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, the later Israelites under Omri and Ahab, and the Arameans all waged war in this region. They were soon followed by the super powers of the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. The earlier battle remembered in this text probably was one of those at the formative stage of these two peoples, who were still developing entities when Israel marched through the area. FALSE GOD BATTLE = Og. The Amorite king of Bashan, Og, is mentioned as the last of the Rephaim or giants, whose “bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide” (see comment on Deut 3:11 Edermsheim THE SPIRITUAL LESSON: But, before crossing that boundary-line, it was absolutely necessary that the people should, once and for all, gain full knowledge of the real character of heathenism in its relation to the kingdom of God. Israel must learn that the heathen nations were not only hostile political powers, opposing their progress, but that heathenism itself was in its nature antagonistic to the kingdom of God. The two were incompatible, and therefore no alliance could ever be formed with heathenism, no intercourse cultivated, nor even its presence tolerated. This was the lesson which, on the eve of entering Palestine, Israel was to learn by painful experience in connection with the history of Balaam. Its importance at that particular period will readily be understood. Again and again was the same lesson taught throughout the history of Israel, as each alliance or even contact with the kingdoms of this world brought fresh sorrow and trouble. Nor is its application to the Church of God, so far as concerns the danger of commixture with, and conformity to the world, less obvious. And so the history of Balak and of Balaam has, besides its direct lessons, a deep meaning for all times.With the decisive victories over Sihon and over Og, all who could have barred access to the Land of Promise had been either left behind, or else scattered and defeated. And now the camp of Israel had moved forward, in the language of Scripture, to “the other side Jordan from Jericho.” Their tents were pitched in rich meadow-land, watered by many streams, which rush down from the neighbouring mountains—the Arboth, or lowlands of Moab, as the country on this and that side the river was still called, after its more ancient inhabitants. SO SAD = Woefully the worship of Chemosh of Moab was brought into the environs of Jerusalem in the tenth century B.C., where the once-wise Solomon built a temple to Chemosh on the hill opposite that upon which the Temple of Yahweh was built earlier in his reign. The seeds of idolatry were planted in the city where the one true God was to have been worshiped exclusively. OG of Bashan The Amorite king of Bashan, Og, is mentioned as the last of the Rephaim or giants, whose “bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide” (see comment on Deut 3:11 Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Nu 21:33.Divinie instruction formula = at God’s command, 21:34 The counsel from the Lord is introduced by the secondary introductory formula for divine instruction used in the Book of Numbers (wayyoʾmer YHWH ʾel-mōšeh). The message from the Lord, that they should not fear the oncoming enemies, was the same one given to the people by Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua when they were faced with the prospects of entering the Promised Land, a task that seemed to them frightening and formidable (Num 14:9). To hesitate in fear would be to rebel against God, but to advance against a foe just like the one they had just defeated would afford evidence of their faith in a God who fights for themTHIS TRANSJORDAN JOURNEY - training to trust, not fear, courage hope, take the LAND = no small task, not same as any other conquest, only Israel = forshadow judgment, and shalom of end times = small phyiscal picture, of what spiritual happens in Christ now, and fully at 2nd Coming !

​The New American Commentary: Numbers (5) Victory over the Amorites of Transjordan (21:21–35)recounted in Deut 3:3–11. The important feature to this account was that Moses and the Israelites faithfully obeyed the instructions from the Lord, and victory was theirs. Og’s dynasty over Bashan had come to an abrupt end, and no descendant of the king would be there to take his rightful place on the throne. The concluding aspect of holy war, that of taking possession of the land, parallels the phraseology of v. 24. The concluding words of the chapter prepare the reader for the coming instructions in Num 33:50–53 and the concomitant warning not to retract in fear like the first generation. The series of victories in chaps. 20–21 would provide the Israelites with the foundation for a faith in Yahweh their God that would give them courage and hope as they would go forth across the Jordan River to the Promised Land.

Not about our holy war, Christ God of shalom, conquers throughy suffering love… esch war - now spiritual conflct…

​Numbers Reversal of Fortune: Journey to Moab and Holy Wars against King Sihon and King Og (21:10–35), the portrayal of God’s involvement in or approval of such wars pushes one to say that God is willing to be involved in activities and people that do not yet fully participate in the goal of shalom

Given vision of proimsed land in Aaronic blessing - arise and take your rest - war not an end in itself, but not ulitmate end of Isreal’s jourey to promised land, stand in some tension with the ultimate end… LIke David stoires, picture, but not fulness, incopmlete, so too Midian stories = practice of dedicatory holy war as display of zeal and dedication and courage - but great vision coming! with Sihon and Og - transJordan kings … point to conquet… but at this time Sihon had taken possession of their territory north of the Arnon (see v. 26 below). Hence, the Arnon formed the northern border between Moab and the Amorites (v. 13) 21:18 staff of nobles, singular… like Aaron’s budding on, Moses’ ruler staff… 1. A new attitude can make a difference. There are hardships along the way, but rather than being discouraged and complaining as the first generation would have, Israel now composes a song celebrating these events, a song later incorporated into its ancient (and now lost) hymnbook, “the Book of the Wars of the LORD” (vv. 14–15). Lack of water (v. 16) does not result in conflicts with Israel’s leaders and rebellion against God, unlike what had happened previously (see Num. 20:2–13), but this ultimately is an occasion for another song in celebration of God’s provision and Israel’s leaders (vv. 17–18). The new generation is coming both physically and spiritually closer to the promised land.MINDSET Our mind-set makes a big difference in what God can do through us. Hardships in life can be the occasion of stumbling or an occasion for praise, depending on our attitude. If we approach problems with an attitude of unbelief or selfishness, then those hardships may well result in discouragement, dissension, or despair. But if we bring to our problems an attitude of gratitude and faith in God, then we often discover that many of these problems have become occasions for thanking God for helping us through them. So when we face a challenging situation, we should be mindful of our attitude.

​Leviticus and Numbers Teaching the TextBut rather than cowering in fear, Israel counterattacks and defeats Sihon and Og (vv. 21–26, 35). Amorite poets had sung of the greatness of Sihon for conquering the northern part of Moab (vv. 27–29), but now Israel can sing of having overthrown Sihon (v. 30). According to Rahab the harlot, these victories terrorize the Canaanites (Josh. 2:10–11), making future victories easier.

The message sent to Sihon, king of the Amorites, was similar to the message to Edom (22; 20:17), and the response was the same: to muster an army and repel them ...Their words anticipated the coming defeat of Moab, whose god was Chemosh (29; 1 Ki. 11:33). Og, king of Bashan, was the next enemy defeated (32–35; a fuller account is in Dt. 3:1–11). After both victories, Israel occupied the land taken (25, 31, 35). More detail is given later about the occupation of Transjordan by two and a half tribes (ch. 32) Peter John Naylor, “Numbers,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 189. 22:1ff God Blesses Israel through Balak and Balaam … Being well known, however, does not equate to being well understood. Traditions about Balaam have often been understood as conflicting, and interpretations vary. Yet, when viewed in light of its importance in Numbers and the theme of God’s blessing of Israel, the story becomes clearer.The central concern of this narrative is the blessing of Israel and how God accomplishes it through and in spite of Balak and Balaam

​Numbers Chapter 6: God Blesses Israel through Balak and Balaam (22:1–24:25)—its current location forms a fitting climax to the story of Israel in the wilderness and contributes to the larger theme of blessing and cursing within the Pentateuch and the Bible.

David L. Stubbs, Numbers, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009), 175