How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed?.... The sense is, that it was impossible for him to curse those that God did not curse himself, or would not have cursed by others; not but that he had a good will to it, to get Balak's money and honour, but he knew not how to accomplish it; yea, he saw it was in vain to attempt it, it was a thing that could not possibly be done: God does not, nor will he curse his spiritual Israel; they are blessed by him in Christ, and they shall be blessed; nor is it in the power of their enemies to curse them, or do them any harm: the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, instead of God and the Lord in this and the following clause, use the phase,"the Word of the Lord;''the essential Word, the Son of God, who is so far from cursing his people, that he has delivered them from the curses of the law, being made a curse for them, that the blessings of the everlasting covenant of grace might come upon them; and they are blessed of God in him, and for his sake, with all spiritual blessings:or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied?
Bible Commentary
Numbers 23:8
Numbers 23:8
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for Numbers 23:8
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Numbers 23 — OverviewNumbers 23 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter we have Balak and Balaam busy at work to do Israel a
mischief, and, for ought that appears, neither Moses nor the elders of
Israel know any thing of the matter, nor are in a capacity to break the…Numbers 23 — OverviewNumbers 23 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 23:1, Balak’s sacrifices; Numbers 23:7, Balaam’s parables; Numbers 23:13, Balak’s sacrifices; Numbers 23:18, Balaam’s parables; Numbers 23:25, Balak’s sacrifices.Numbers 23 — OverviewNumbers 23 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter gives an account of the sacrifices offered by Balak and Balaam, and how God met Balsam, and put a word into his mouth, which he delivered in the presence of the king of Moab and his princes, Nu 23:1, the…Numbers 23:8Numbers 23:8 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 23:20, Numbers 23:23; Isaiah 44:25, Isaiah 47:12-13
devotionRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.devotionThe GavelPrayer isn't just asking God for things; it's enforcing what God has already decided. Pick up the gavel today. Stop accepting what Heaven has already forbidden.DiscipleDeckdevotionThe Branch and the SapApples don't grow because the branch tries hard; they grow because the branch holds on. Stop striving. Start abiding.DiscipleDeckdevotionThe Branch and the SapApples don't grow because the branch tries hard; they grow because the branch holds on. Stop striving. Start abiding.DiscipleDeckdevotionThe Shut Kitchen and the Open DoorFasting isn't about emptying your stomach; it's about filling your spirit. Try a simple fast next week: Skip one meal (like lunch). Every time you feel a hunger pang during that hour, use it as an alarm clock to pray for someone. Turn down the noise to hear the Signal.Discipledeck devotionThe Throne Room and the Living RoomPrayer isn't a performance; it's a conversation. You don't need a script to talk to your Dad. You don't need big words or a holy voice. You just need to be a child. The King of the Universe is your Father, run to HimDiscipledeck devotionThe God Who Makes DistinctionsThe same storm hit Egypt and Goshen. The result was different. Because God makes distinctions. Know which side of the line you're onDiscipledeck