numbers 22:2-25:9, balak “balak” strong themes

Read Numbers 22:2-25:9 at Bible Gateway.

num 22:2-25:9, balak chiastic structure 2013 jun 21
num 22:2-25:9, balak paragraph divisions 2012 jul 07
num 22-24, balaam 2011 mar 12
num 25-26, idolatry with baal of peor 2011 mar 13
the teaching tools of scripture

This year I noticed something about the Hebrew paragraph divisions that does not normally happen. Normally the annual torah portions end in a strong division, indicating that next week we will be studying a new theme or topic. However, last week’s torah portion, chukat, ended in weak paragraph division, indicating that a theme or topic in last week’s reading is carried over into this week’s reading, into balak. Here are the paragraph divisions in question:

Num 21:21-22:1 {s} Sihon + Og refused Israel passage; defeat of Sihon + Og (end of chukat)
Num 22:2-24:25 {p} Balak and Balaam
Num 25:1-9 {p} Idolatry with Baal of Peor (end of balak)

It turns out that Num 21:21-25:9 is teaching a single strong theme with this chiastic structure:

1a) Num 21:21-35, Victory for Israel over the Amorities (Sihon + Og);

1b) Num 22:1 {s} Israel went their way to camp in the plains of Moab;

1c) Num 22:2-3, Balak saw what Israel had done to the Amorites;

1d) Num 22:4, The oracle of Balak concerning Israel;

1e) Num 22:5-17, Balak sent to Balaam;

1f) Num 22:18-19, Balaam received the men + I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD;

1g) Num 22:20-21, Go with the men + speak only My word + Balaam went with the men;

1h) Num 22:22-27, Angel of the LORD against Balaam + his donkey turned aside three times;

1i) Num 22:28a, The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey;

central axis) Num 22:28b-30, The donkey rebuked Balaam;

2i) Num 22:31, The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam;

2h) Num 22:32-33, I have come out against you + your donkey turned aside three times;

2g) Num 22:34-35, Go with the men + only My word shall you speak + Balaam went with the men;

2f) Num 22:36-38, Balak received Balaam + I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD;

2e) Num 22:39, Balaam went with Balak;

2d) Num 23:1-24:9, The oracles of Balaam concerning Israel;

2c) Num 24:10-24, Balaam prophesied what Messiah will do to Moab + the nations;

2b) Num 24:25 {p} Balaam and Balak went their way;

2a) Num 25:1-9 {p} Defeat for Israel in the matter of Baal of Peor.

Now the Ammorites and the Moabites made themselves the enemies of Israel. Israel did not wish their land, nor did they wish to disturb their people, or diminish their kings. They wanted peaceful passage through their territory, on the King’s Highway, not through farms or fields, on their way to the land they would possess, and wanted to pay in gold for any food and water they might require on the journey.

However, Sihon and Og came out against Israel, and were defeated. Moab feared Israel, because she had defeated Sihon, who had defeated Moab previously and taken away some of Moab’s territory. Moab did not even try to come out against Israel openly, but sought to defeat them by cursing them. However, the Lord God ensured that no curse came against Israel through the occult arts of Balaam. The only way that Israel could be cursed or defeated, was for Israel herself to curse herself by disobedience to the Lord God. They opened the door themselves that God, their Protector and Defender, had kept tightly shut.

Let us not forget that these things happened to them as an example, and were included in Torah for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1 Cor 10:11). God does not ask obedience from His people in order to burden them with commandments, but to ensure their blessing and prosperity! Let us not by disobedience, open doors which God, in His providence and wisdom, has shut for us!