Bible Strands
Numbers 23:13
Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp—not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balak speaks to Balaam immediately after Balaam refuses to curse the Israelites, declaring he will only utter what the LORD commands. Balak proposes relocating to a higher vantage point to view only the periphery of the camp before attempting the curse.
The words — The Hebrew לְכָ֥ה נָּא (lekhah nāʾ) literally commands "come please," while מָק֤וֹם (māqōm) specifies the new "place" Balak demands for the ritual.
The thread — Balak's request to see only the camp's outskirts mirrors his prior movement to Bamoth-baal (Numbers 22:41). The narrative then records him taking Balaam to the field of Zophim and the top of Pisgah to construct altars (Numbers 23:14).
Why it lands — The text demonstrates that human strategy and repeated ritual cannot override divine declaration. It requires the reader to acknowledge that blessing and curse are determined solely by God's spoken word, not by location or sacrifice.
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 him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
Cross-references
- Psalms 109:17 The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
- James 3:9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
- Numbers 22:41 The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.
- Joshua 24:9 Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
- 1 Kings 20:23 Meanwhile, the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they prevailed over us. Instead, we should fight them on the plains; surely then we will prevail.
- 1 Kings 20:28 Then the man of God approached the king of Israel and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans have said that the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys, I will deliver all this great army into your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
- Micah 6:5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”