2 Peter 2:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If the grace of God acted upon the donkey and upon the diviner according to the divine economy (δι’ οἰκονομίαν), and for the benefit of the Israelites, then it is evident that it will also act upon us and exalt this for us.

But he was rebuked for his iniquity. A speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the madness of the prophet.

From this we learn that Balaam, after once receiving God's prohibition against going to Balak, was again driven toward it by his proud passion. He had nourished this passion by his furious sorcery. Yet, restrained by the fear of God and by the dread signs that occurred on the road, he did not alter the word of blessing, which was not the work of sorcery.

For prophets utter their oracles with conscious understanding. For this reason the apostle called him a prophet, since he knew what he was saying. If he had not understood his own words, he could not have chosen what was better.

Thus his blessing was not the work of magic, but of the power of God.

It spoke with a human voice so that man might understand that God was speaking through an animal. It restrained the prophet's madness, because those who transgress the commandment of their God are mad. Irrational animals are more rational than they, because they keep the law of their nature.

The interpreters also say this: Balaam's donkey condemns him, because it obeyed the angel and turned aside. But he, though he had heard God, did not go, did not bless the people, and did not obey God's will. Therefore the donkey became his teacher.

He was rebuked for his iniquity. How and by what he was rebuked is then indicated. Iniquity means a wrong and impious action. He clearly knew and learned the will of God, namely, that he must not pronounce a curse upon the people. Yet he still opposed it.

A speechless donkey, and so forth. The miracle is characteristically expressed by the fact that an irrational animal, and therefore one deprived of reason and speech, spoke with a human voice, and therefore with rational and articulate speech.

It restrained the madness. From this extraordinary miracle Balaam should have understood that his action was displeasing to God. He should have stopped and ceased opposing God in a matter displeasing to Him. He should have understood that his action was mad, senseless, irrational, and foolish.

Cf. Num 22:23-24. For personal gain, false teachers are ready to betray others into every evil. Balaam, for gain, gave Balak, king of Moab, counsel destructive to the Jews, to weaken them through fornication. So also heretics lead the weak into corruption, especially wealthy women, in order to use their possessions for their own pleasures. Cf. 2 Tim 3:6.