Read Numbers 22:2-23:1 at Bible Gateway.
The Teaching Tools of Scripture
Genesis 1:1-2:3, The Teaching Tools of Scripture, part one and part two
Genesis 1:1-6:8, Finding the Topic Themes of Scripture
Hebrew Paragraph Divisions
22:2-24:25 {p} Balak and Balaam
Strong Themes
None this week.
Numbers 22:2-23:1 Chiastic Structure
Download the fully expanded Numbers 22:2-23:1 Triennial Balak chiasm pdf (Coming …).
Theme of the parashah
The word spoken over Israel is to bless her and not to curse her.
Finding Messiah in Triennial Balak
Num 22:21-35 recounts the famous story of Balaam’s donkey speaking, after Balaam had struck her three times. The story opens and closes with God’s admonition to Balaam to speak only YHVH’s word that He would give him concerning Israel (Num 22:20, 35). I think the temptation was strong for Balaam to speak the word that Balak was wanting to hear, despite his protestations to the contrary to the princes of Moab. The encounter with the angel of YHVH, repeated three times—a sign of Messiah in Torah—bearing a drawn sword to kill him in the way, cemented for Balaam that he dare not go beyond YHVH’s word.
The angel of YHVH is not an ordinary class of angel, but a pre-incarnate appearance of Messiah Yeshua. Messiah Yeshua is, furthermore, the Word of YHVH Himself (Joh 1:1-3), that word that Balaam was not to go beyond. The Word of YHVH, which put on flesh and dwelt among us, blesses Israel and does not curse Israel. The Word of commandments given, was given to bless Israel by walking in them, and not to curse Israel. The angel of YHVH, that is, Messiah Yeshua, armed with a drawn sword, gave surety to Israel that the Word spoken would bless her and not curse her.
Additional readings for this parashah
Psa 111 (my notes) | Mic 5 (my notes) | 2 Pet 2 (my notes)
Studies in Triennial Balak
Numbers 22, Bible for Beginners
Numbers 22:2-24:25, Strong theme chiastic structure
Off-site Studies
Balak and Balaam, Numbers 22-24 – Matthew Henry’s Commentary (follow the links at the bottom of each page)
The doctrine of Balaam – Bible Hub
SCRIPTURE REVEALED SERIES by CHRISTINE MILLER:
THE LAW of LOVE | FINDING MESSIAH in TORAH | NUMBERS in CHIASTIC STRUCTURE
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