Bible Strands
Numbers 23:15
Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balaam addresses Balak at the top of Pisgah immediately after Balak has built seven altars and offered bulls and rams on each. Balaam instructs Balak to remain by the sacrifice while he goes to encounter the LORD.
The words — הִתְיַצֵּב (hit.ya.Tzev) means "take your stand" or "stay," and עֹלָתֶךָ ('o.la.te.kha) translates to "your burnt offering," anchoring the command to the sacrificial site.
The thread — This directive echoes Balaam’s earlier instruction in Numbers 23:3 to wait by the burnt offering and parallels his promise in Numbers 22:8 to remain until the LORD speaks.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that divine communication occurs on God’s terms and location, not through human ritual positioning or manipulation.
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 he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder.
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:3 “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,
- Numbers 22:8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.