Numbers 17:1,2 And God spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods and write every man's name upon his rod.

Numbers 17:3-7 And you shall write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for one rod is for the head of the house of their fathers. And you shall lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before.(in front of).the testimony.(the testimony was the two atblets with the commandments written on them), where I will meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the whom I shall choose, it shall blossom and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the rods before God in the tabernacle of witness.

Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness and behold the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded and brought forth buds and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds.

Numbers 17:9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the God unto all the children of Israel and they looked through them to find the one with their name on it and took every man his rod.

Numbers 17:10 And God said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels and take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

The Testimony was the two tablets on which was written the commandments:.Exodus 25:16. They were  placed into the Ark of the Covenant.

Exodus 24:12; 31:18.

Numbers 18:1 And God said unto Aaron, You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of.(the people came annually to have the Levitical priesthood back then, look after their sins and keep them in a right stead with God).the sanctuary and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

The work of their priesthood involved looking after the sins of the people.

Numbers 18:2 And your brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring you with you, that they may be joined unto you and minister unto you, but you and your sons with you shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.

Numbers 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge and the charge of all the tabernacle, only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor you also, die.(*).

Numbers 18:4-6 And they shall be joined unto you and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the service of the tabernacle. A stranger shall not come near unto you. And you shall keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar, that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel. To you they are given as a gift for the Lord to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto God, have I given you and your sons and your daughters with you, by a statute for ever. It is a covenant of salt.(what's 'covenant of salt' mean?).for ever before God unto you and to your seed with you.

Numbers 18:20 And God spake unto Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them. I am you part and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

Numbers 18:21-23 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they.(speaking of the priests back then).have no inheritance.

Numbers 18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto God, I have given to the Levites to inherit.(tithes not applicable today, but was part of the Mosaic Law way back when). Therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

"They shall have no inheritance.".See above, verses 20-23.

Numbers 18:25-32 And God spake unto Moses, saying, thus speak unto the Levites and say unto them, When you take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up an heave offering of it for God, even a tenth part of the tithe. And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor and as the fulness of the winepress. In this you also shall offer a heave offering unto God of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel and you shall give thereof God's heave offering to Aaron the priest. Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave offering to God, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. Therefore you shall say unto them, When you have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor and as the increase of the winepress. And you shall eat it in every place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it the best of it, neither shall you pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest you die.

Numbers 20:1 Then came the children of Israel even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month. And the people abode in Kadesh and Miriam died there and was buried there.

Numbers 20:2-6 And there was no water for the congregation and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chode.(strove).with Moses and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place for seed or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drink. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

Numbers 20:7 And God spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 20:8 Take the rod and gather you the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother and speak you unto the rock before their eyes and it shall give forth his water and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock. So you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him.

This time.(what was the other time?.Exodus 17:6).Moses was to speak to the rock (verse 8 above), but that's not what he did.

Numbers 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock and he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels, must we fetch you water out of this rock?.

Numbers 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock and he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels.(by this time, Moses had disdain for the people he was leading to their promised land; before, he was on the people's side:.Exodus 32:7-14,31,32), must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Moses had an angry streak in his character and with disdain struck the rock twice, obviously fed up with the carping and complaining of the people, who here, unlike before where he was told just to strike the rock (obviously once), here he wasn't told to strike the rock at all, but only to speak to it. This water from the rock thng also happened before, which Moses did correctly then, in Exodus 17:2-6.

Christ the rock (1Corinthians 10:4) was to be smitten once. Christ needs to have been smitten, that water might come out (John 19:34; 1John 5:6) in behalf of His people, but there can be no repetition of this smiting:.Hebrews 9:26. Christ's sacrifice is the only one needed to cleanse away all sin for all time.(*):.Hebrews 10:26.

Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice.(the lesson of getting angry and how it hurts the one getting angry). And the water came out abundantly and the congregation drank and their beasts also.

Numbers 20:12 And God spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel.(didn't uphold the truth of God to the people at this time), therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land.(called ' the promised land':.Numbers 14:22,23; Deuteronomy 34:1-5).which I have given them.

Numbers 20:13 This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel who were sanctified.strove here with God.

These were God's people back then who stepped out of their realm in God by not following what they had agreed to:.Exodus 19:7,8.

Barnes Notes: the place is called 'Meribah in Kadesh' (Numbers 27:14) and 'Meribah-Kadesh' (Deuteronomy 32:51,52) to distinguish it from the 'Meribah' of Exodus 17:2-7.

Numbers 20:16 And when we cried unto God, he heard.(Exodus 3:7-9).our voice and sent an angel and has brought us forth out of Egypt and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.

Numbers 20:17-21 Let us pass, I pray thee.(would you please), through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king's highway and not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your borders. And Edom said unto him, You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword.(unfriendly, unhelpful and mean). And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the highway and if I and my cattle drink of your water, then I will pay for it. We will only do that. Without doing any thing else, we will even go through on our feet. And Edom said, You shall not go through at all. And Edom came out against him with much people and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through its border, wherefore Israel turned away from him.

Those back then in the nation Israel were not the best they could be in heart (Deuteronomy 5:29) or this situation with the nation of Edom wouldn't have happened:.Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please God, enemies will be at peace."

Numbers 21:1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies, then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.

Numbers 21:3 And God hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites who were utterly destroyed, both them and their cities. And he called the name of the place Hormah.

Numbers 21:4 And from there they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

Numbers 21:5 And the people spake against God and against Moses, saying, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread.(such as they were used to in Egypt), neither is there any water and our soul loathes this light bread?

What bread was this that they didn't at all like? It was called 'manna'. And they didn't like the water. They didn't like being in the wilderness. They disliked Moses who was leading them. They wanted the food they were used to:.Exodus 16:2,3. They just complained about everything. They just didn't trust God, even after God did the miracles he did in bringing them out of Egyptian bondage.

Numbers 21:6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people and much people of Israel died.

Numbers 21:7,8 Therefore the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks upon it, shall live.

Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

And so we have those who used this later as a form of idolatrous worship:.2Kings 18:4.

Numbers 21:14 Wherefore it is said in the book.(?).of the wars of the Lord, What he did in the Red sea and in the brooks of Arnon. 

Numbers 21:21-26 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through your land. We will not turn into the fields or into the vineyards. We will not drink of the waters of the well. But we will go along by the king's highway, until we be past your borders. And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon, for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. And Israel took all these cities and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all the villages thereof. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. 

Numbers 21:27-32 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared, for there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ar of Moab.(a city of Moab).and the lords of the high places of Arnon.(Deuteronomy 3:8,16). Woe to thee, Moab! you are undone, O people of Chemosh, he has given his sons that escaped and his daughters into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.(Genesis 15:16). We have shot at them. Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reaches unto Medeba. Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer and they took the villages thereof and drove out the Amorites that were there. 

Numbers 21:33-35 And they.(the Israelites returning from 430 years of captivity to the Egyptians).turned and went up by the way of Bashan and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. And the Lord said unto Moses, fear him not, for I have delivered him into your hand and all his people and his land and you shall do to him as you did unto Sihon king of the Amorites.(Genesis 15:16), which dwelt at Heshbon. So they smote him and his sons and all his people until there was none left alive and they possessed his land.

Numbers 22:1-4 And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 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 licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

Numbers 22:1-4 And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. And Balak.(this interesting story of.Balak the king of the Moabites.{as you'll see, he was a wuss} and.Balaam.who was a quasi man of God; the name Balaam means 'not of the people' in other words he cared not for others as he was selfishly minded; this humorous story finishes as you read through to Numbers 24:25; this short preamble was comprised from.Bible Dictionaries:.The name Balak means 'empty', 'spoiler'. Balak was king of the Moabites, one whose life God took a direct hand in. From fear of the Israelites who were encamped near the confines of his territory, Balak applied to this man Balaam to curse them, but in vain:.Joshua 24:9; Balaam was famous back then for his supposed supernatural powers. Balak wanted Balaam to come and curse these Israelites. Balaam, though eager for gain {2Peter 2:15,16; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14}, was led to ask counsel of the true God, who forbade his going. Balak afterwards sends other deputies, whom Balaam finally accompanied without the approval of God, who sent a visible angel to meet and warn him in the way. Here occurred the 'miracle' of Balaam's ass. Had Balaam possessed a sincere spirit of obedience, he would have found in the first instructions {verse 12 below} a final decision upon the matter. He did really believe in the true God to the point where it mattered in his life and did know God existed and that God can change His mind, which God does by giving Balaam further instructions when the fresh messengers {verses 15-20} from Balak come to see him).the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.(Genesis 15:16). 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 licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor.(means 'a little bird').was king of the Moabites at that time.

Numbers 22:5,6 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, they cover the face of the Earth.(Exodus 1:8-12).and they abide over against me. Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse this people for me for they are too mighty for me, peradventure.(perhaps).I shall prevail, that we may smite them and that I may drive them out of the land. For I wot.(am aware).that he whom you bless is blessed and he whom you curse is cursed.

Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination.(money from Balak for Balaam for his anticipated work of cursing the Israelites).in their hand and they came unto Balaam and spake unto him the words of Balak.

Numbers 22:8 And.(Balaam).he said unto them, Lodge here this night and I will bring you word again as the Lord shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

Numbers 22:9-11 And God came unto Balaam and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the Earth. Come now, curse them for me, peradventure I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.

Numbers 22:9-11 And God came unto Balaam and said, What men are these with thee.(God well knew who they were, but it was just a way to open a conversation with Balaam)? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the Earth.(they were so numerous that Balak was afraid of them ever rising up against him). Come now, curse them for me, peradventure I shall be able to overcome them and drive them out.

Balak believed if Balaam would curse them, he would have some sort of advantage over them and would be able to dispossess them of the land they had settled upon.

Numbers 22:12 And God said unto Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.(they were good people).

Numbers 22:13,14 And Balaam rose up in the morning and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land for the Lord refuses to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up and they went unto Balak and said, Balaam refused to come with us.

Numbers 22:15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more and more honourable than they.

Balak truly believed in Balaam's ability.

Numbers 22:16-18 And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder you from coming unto me for I will promote you unto very great honour and I will do whatsoever you say unto me. Come therefore, I pray thee, curse this people for me. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

Numbers 22:19,20 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what more the Lord will say unto me. And God came again unto Balaam at night and said unto him, Regarding the men that have come to call you again to rise up and go with them.(to see Balak the king), the word which I said unto you, that shal you do.

Balaam just didn't get it the first time God talked to him, in verse 12.

Numbers 22:21-27 And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass.(donkey).and went with the princes of Moab.(Balaam should have just sent them away, saying the word I gave your king at the first {verse 12} shall stand). And God's anger was kindled because he went. And the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand. And the ass turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way he wanted to go. But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord again, she thrust herself unto the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. And he smote her again. And the angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord there, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled and he smote the ass with a staff.

Numbers 22:28-30 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto you that you have smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, because you have mocked me. I would there were a sword in mine hand for now would I kill you. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I your ass upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours unto this day? Was I ever like this in the past to you? And he.(Balaam).said, No.

For some unknown reason Balaam thought it not strange his donkey was talking. Perhaps he couldn't think as he was so upset by the donkey not going where he wanted it to go.

Numbers 22:31 Then God opened the eyes of Balaam and he saw the angel of God standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.

Numbers 22:31 Then God opened the eyes of Balaam.(interesting how the Creator can work, having the donkey speak and see things the human couldn't; the human couldn't see what the donkey saw until his eyes too were able to see it; is there anything the Creator can't do? Do we ever have a reason to not implicitly trust the Creator? And, just how could the Creator have done this making the donkey see what it saw and speak what it spoke?).and he saw the angel of God standing in the way and his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed down his head and fell flat on his face.

Numbers 22:32-35 And the angel of God said unto him, Why have you smitten your ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand you because your way is perverse before me. And the ass saw me and turned from me these three times. Unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you and saved her alive. And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned for I knew not that you stood in the way against me.(Hebrews 13:2). Now therefore if it displease you.(Balaam knew he had not followed God's instructions, but Balaam was always looking for opportunity to advance himself in some way; lesson being for us, that when things are going against you, consider that God may want you to question yourself about your life), I will get me back again.(head on back home). And the angel of God said unto Balaam, Go with the men. But only the word that I shall speak unto you that shall you speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 22:36-40 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto you to call you? Wherefore came you not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor? And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto you. Have I now any power at all to say any thing? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak. And Balaam went with Balak and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him.

Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.(to have a good view of the countryside where the Israelites were encamped).

Numbers 23:1-6 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoke and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by your burnt offering and I will go.(go away from them a bit and see if God would again talk to him), peradventure the Lord will come to meet me and whatsoever he shows me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.(some other high hill there). And God met Balaam and Balaam said unto him, I have prepared seven altars and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth.(how?).and said, Return unto Balak and thus you shall speak. And he returned unto him and lo, he.(Balak).stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the princes of Moab. 

Numbers 23:7 And he took up his parable and said, Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob and come, defy Israel.

Numbers 23:7 And he.(Balaam).took up his parable and said.(what he said continues inclusive to Numbers 23:10), Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob.(the Israelites were often referred to as Jacob whom they descended from).and come, defy Israel.

Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord has not defied?

Numbers 23:9,10 For from the top of the rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him, lo, the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob or even the number of the fourth part of Israel.(each one of the four camps into which the host {all of} of Israel was divided was huge)? Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his!

Numbers 23:11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What have you done unto me? I took you to curse mine enemies and behold, you have blessed them altogether.

Numbers 23:12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord has put in my mouth? 

Numbers 23:13-15 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray you, with me unto another place, from whence you may see them. Here you'll be able to see a large amount of them and that won't even be all of them that there are and curse them for me from this place of viewing them. And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah and built seven altars and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And he said unto Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.

Numbers 23:13-15 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence you may see them.(see more of how many of them there are and see that just by how many there are, they are a threat). Here you'll be able to see a large amount of them and that won't even be all of them that there are and curse them for me from this place of viewing them. And he.(Balak).brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah and built seven altars and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And he.(Balaam).said unto Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.(Balaam a third time goes for advice from God).

Numbers 23:16 And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, Go again unto Balak and this time say thus.(verse 18).

Numbers 23:17 And when he.(Balaam) came to him.(Balak), behold, Balak stood by his burnt offering and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What has the Lord spoken?

Numbers 23:18 And he took up his parable and said, Rise up, Balak and hear; hearken unto me, you son of Zippor;

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent. Has he said and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken and shall he not make it good?

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man.(?), that he should lie.(Matthew Poole's Commentary: break promises made to people), neither the son of man, that he should repent.(repent means change). Has he said and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken and shall he not make it good?

In other words, you can trust God to be true to what He says:.Psalms 146:3.

Original for 1st sentence here is 'God man lie son comfort' out of which the translators came up with the sentence as seen above; they did the best they could; that's why one needs intuition to see clearly and not just accept without question what someone else has written, often from their point of view and as best they knew how back then; the Old Testament is written all like this, so it takes both the information provided, the context within which it occurs and how it's been translated, as well as insight and guidance from the Creator to overstand it as it was meant to be.

Numbers 23:21 He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has he seen perverseness in Israel.(the entire line of descent is clean and yet, you Balak {Numbers 22:1-4}, because of your own fears, want them cursed and destroyed). The Lord his God is with him.(Jacob/Israel).and the shout of a king is among them.

Perhaps Balaam didn't know why God would say this after all the bad stuff ancient Israel did.

Numbers 23:22 God brought them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Numbers 23:23,24 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What has God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion and lift up himself as a young lion. He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slain..(saying that because God is behind Israel of old, that they would not be defeated)

Numbers 23:25-30 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaks, that I must do? And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place, peradventure it will please God that you may curse me them from thence. And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looks toward Jeshimon. And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had said and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 24:1-3 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.(Adam Clarke's Commentary:."When Balaam saw that it pleased God to bless Israel, he therefore thought it unnecessary to apply for any further prophetic declarations of God's will as he had done before, for he could safely infer every good to this people, from the evident disposition of God towards them."). And Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said and the man whose eyes are open has said;

Numbers 24:4 He has said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, having his eyes open, yet appearing as if in a trance.

Numbers 24:5,6 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign.(wood).aloes.(a fragrant wood).which the Lord has planted and as cedar trees beside the waters.

Numbers 24:7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets and his seed shall be in many waters and his king shall be higher than Agag.(1Samuel 15:8).and his kingdom shall be exalted.

Numbers 24:8 God brought him forth out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of an unicorn. He shall eat up the nations his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows.

Numbers 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion and as a great lion. Who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee.

A real slight to Balak because he wanted Balaam to curse a close encamped army of Israelites he was afraid of. He believed he could defeat them if they were first cursed by someone who was famous back them for getting results; the story begins.

Numbers 24:10 And Balak's.(about Balak:.Numbers 22:1-4).anger was kindled against Balaam and he smote his hands.(probably Balak's own hands).together.(as much as to say 'you bad man').and Balak said unto Balaam, I called you to curse mine enemies and behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:11 Therefore now flee you to your place.(go on back to where you came from, I want nothing more to do with you). I thought to promote you unto great honour, but lo, the Lord has kept you back from honour.

Numbers 24:12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to your messengers which you sent unto me, saying,

Numbers 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind, but what the Lord says, that will I speak?

Balaam finally learned this, but....

Numbers 24:14-19 And now, behold, I go unto my people. Come therefore and I will tell thee what this people shall do to your people in the latter days. And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said; He hath said, which heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open, He said, I shall see him but not now. I shall behold him but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth..(Balaam here recounts to Balak what God had determined with these other nations).And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion and shall destroy him that remains of the city. 

Numbers 24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable and said Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be that he perish forever.(fulfilled). 

Numbers 24:21-24 And he looked on the Kenites and took up his parable and said, Strong is thy dwelling place and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable and said, Alas, who shall live when God does this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim and shall afflict Asshur and shall afflict Eber and he also shall perish forever.

Numbers 24:25 And Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place and Balak also went his way.

Balaam however taught Balak how to infiltrate the ancient Israelites and how to lead them away from God (Revelation 2:14; Numbers 31:16; 2Peter 2:15,16) and for this he died:.Joshua 13:22. Balaam knew God was real and that God wanted things a certain way. Balaam wouldn't directly go against God. He wouldn't curse the people of Israel that king Balak wanted cursed, but Balaam failed to see God's intent for ancient Israel, that they were a special people to God. As a result of his failing to fall in line with God on this, he found a way to stay in Balak's favor by showing Balak how to achieve the same result. Balaam was conniving, deceitful, traitorous and out of line with God's intent and dies, nothing having changed his heart.

Numbers 25:1,2 And Israel abode in Shittim and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. 

Numbers 25:3 And Israel.(here speaking of the Israelites, the people who came out of captivity to the Egyptians).joined themselves unto Baalpeor.and the anger of the true God was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 25:4,5 And God said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people.(that is, those who of Israel who did the offending).and hang them up before me against the sun, that my fierce anger may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay you every one of the men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

2Corinthians 6:14.

Numbers 25:6-8 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Shows that one with strong determination for the ways of the true God, can stop the evil afflicting the many. In your prayers and meditation, be determined for good. God responds to your heart. Your actions can change the evilness. How?

The true God does not want humanity He created being involved with those easily influenced genetically modified ones who despise Him, that the satanically controlled other beings had created:.Jeremiah 44:16,17; 2Corinthians 6:14.

Numbers 25:9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

1Corinthians 10:7,8 says 'three and twenty thousand', perhaps because the Jewish tradition deducted one thousand as the number slain by the hands of their brethren.....Barnes Notes.

Numbers 25:10-13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace. And he shall have it and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel. 

Numbers 25:14,15 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur.(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: "A Midianite woman, distinguished as the daughter of Zur, meaning "head of the people of a father's house in Midian". She was slain by Phinehas at Shittim in company with Zimri."). Zur was head over a people and of a chief house in Midian.

Numbers 25:16-18 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Vex the Midianites and smite them. For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
 

....continues to Chapters 26-35

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