Bible Strands
Numbers 24:10
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balak speaks to Balaam immediately after Balaam delivers his third blessing instead of the requested curse. The confrontation occurs during their journey, following the fulfillment of the previous two blessings.
The words — The Hebrew אַ֤ף ('af) denotes the anger or nostril of Balak, while וַ/יִּסְפֹּ֖ק (va/i.yis.Pok) describes the physical act of striking his hands together in frustration.
The thread — Balak’s complaint mirrors his earlier reaction in Numbers 23:11, while the gesture of striking hands appears later in Ezekiel 21:14 and Ezekiel 21:17 as a symbol of executing judgment or satisfying wrath.
Why it lands — The text records Balak’s direct accusation that Balaam has repeatedly blessed rather than cursed his enemies. It requires the reader to acknowledge that human arrangements cannot override divine declaration, and that transactional religion fails when God’s word stands firm.
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’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Cross-references
- Numbers 23:11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”
- Ezekiel 21:14 ‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!
- Ezekiel 21:17 I too will strike My hands together, and I will satisfy My wrath.’ I, the LORD, have spoken.”
- Ezekiel 22:13 Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.
- 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,
- Nehemiah 13:2 because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
- Job 27:23 It claps its hands at him and hisses him out of his place.
- Numbers 22:6 So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
- Numbers 22:11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
- Numbers 22:17 for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”