Bible Strands
Numbers 23:29
Then Balaam said, “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 at the top of Peor after the king relocates him there (Numbers 23:28). He commands the construction of seven altars and the gathering of seven bulls and seven rams for sacrifice.
The words — The Hebrew verb בְּנֵה (be.neh) issues a direct imperative to "build," while מִזְבְּחֹת (miz.be.Chot) specifies "altars." The repeated use of שׁבְעָה (shiv'ah) "seven" structures the command around a fixed ritual quantity.
The thread — This exact instruction first appears in Numbers 23:1, creating a repeated ritual pattern that frames the oracle. The sequence concludes in Numbers 23:30 when Balak carries out the building and offerings.
Why it lands — The text records a precise architectural and sacrificial command without commentary, requiring the reader to track how structured preparation precedes prophetic speech. It asks the reader to observe the sequence of human ritual execution followed by divine declaration.
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 bullocks and seven rams.
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”