Bible Strands
Numbers 22:37
And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balak addresses Balaam at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, questioning his delay in arriving after a prior summons.
The words — The Hebrew pairs the infinitive absolute שָלֹ֨חַ (sha.Lo.ach) with the perfect verb שָלַ֤חְתִּי (sha.Lach.ti) to emphasize the completed action of dispatching the messenger.
The thread — Balak’s pledge of lucrative payment resurfaces in Numbers 24:11, where he later states that God refused to grant the compensation he had promised.
Why it lands — The text records Balak’s transactional expectation without endorsing it, leaving the reader to observe the contrast between human bargaining and divine instruction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Cross-references
- Numbers 24:11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
- John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- Numbers 22:16 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
- Psalms 75:6 For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert,
- Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Luke 4:6 “I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.