Bible Strands
Numbers 23:1
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balaam speaks to Balak, commanding him to construct seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams. This instruction occurs at a designated site where the two leaders are preparing for divine consultation.
The words — The imperative בְּנֵה (be.neh) means "build," and מִזְבְּחֹת (miz.be.Chot) specifies "altars." The numeral שִׁבְעָה (shiv.'Ah) is repeated to emphasize the complete ritual setup.
The thread — Balaam repeats this exact command in Numbers 23:29 for a second ritual. Jude 1:11 later references Balaam’s path as a warning against pursuing profit.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to observe the precise, repeated ritual actions demanded before divine response. It establishes a pattern of prescribed worship that readers must note without adding to or subtracting from the stated requirements.
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 Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:29 Then Balaam said, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
- Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
- Exodus 20:24 You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.
- Exodus 27:1 “You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high.
- Numbers 29:32 On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
- 1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
- 2 Kings 18:22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem: ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
- 1 Chronicles 15:26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
- 2 Chronicles 29:21 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And the king commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.
- Job 42:8 So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”