Numbers 22:7 - The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
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What does "Numbers 22:7" mean?
Numbers 22:7 is part of the story of Balak, the king of Moab, hiring the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. Let's break down what this verse means:
"The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed..." Moab and Midian were two neighboring nations who felt threatened by the large number of Israelites encamped near their borders. The elders were leaders and representatives of these two nations. They left together, acting in concert.
"...with the rewards of divination in their hand." Divination was the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the will of the gods through supernatural means. Balaam was known as a diviner, a person who could supposedly pronounce curses or blessings that would have power. The "rewards of divination" refer to the payment they were bringing to Balaam to entice him to curse Israel. This was essentially a bribe. The phrase suggests they had brought a generous sum of money or other valuables to convince Balaam.
"They came to Balaam..." The elders traveled to wherever Balaam was located.
"...and spoke to him the words of Balak." The elders acted as emissaries or messengers for Balak, the king of Moab. They delivered Balak's message to Balaam, which would have included a description of the Israelites, the threat they posed, and the request for Balaam to curse them.
In summary, this verse describes:
The leaders of Moab and Midian, concerned about the approaching Israelites, traveled to Balaam with a large payment (a bribe) to persuade him to curse Israel. They arrived and presented Balak's request. The verse sets the stage for the confrontation between Balaam and God, and the eventual blessings that Balaam pronounces upon Israel instead of curses.
Numbers 22:7 - The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
What does "Numbers 22:7" mean?
Numbers 22:7 is part of the story of Balak, the king of Moab, hiring the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. Let's break down what this verse means:
"The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed..." Moab and Midian were two neighboring nations who felt threatened by the large number of Israelites encamped near their borders. The elders were leaders and representatives of these two nations. They left together, acting in concert.
"...with the rewards of divination in their hand." Divination was the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the will of the gods through supernatural means. Balaam was known as a diviner, a person who could supposedly pronounce curses or blessings that would have power. The "rewards of divination" refer to the payment they were bringing to Balaam to entice him to curse Israel. This was essentially a bribe. The phrase suggests they had brought a generous sum of money or other valuables to convince Balaam.
"They came to Balaam..." The elders traveled to wherever Balaam was located.
"...and spoke to him the words of Balak." The elders acted as emissaries or messengers for Balak, the king of Moab. They delivered Balak's message to Balaam, which would have included a description of the Israelites, the threat they posed, and the request for Balaam to curse them.
In summary, this verse describes:
The leaders of Moab and Midian, concerned about the approaching Israelites, traveled to Balaam with a large payment (a bribe) to persuade him to curse Israel. They arrived and presented Balak's request. The verse sets the stage for the confrontation between Balaam and God, and the eventual blessings that Balaam pronounces upon Israel instead of curses.