THEOSISGregory of Nyssa
He, after being guided by those who brought him to the ruler of the people, is instructed by the voice of the donkey that his path will not lead to success.
Numbers 22:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And the angel said to him: Why beatest thou thy ass these three times? I am come to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse, and contrary to me:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה עַל־מָ֗ה הִכִּ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־אֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔ זֶ֖ה שָׁל֣וֹשׁ רְגָלִ֑ים הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ יָצָ֣אתִי לְשָׂטָ֔ן כִּֽי־יָרַ֥ט הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּֽי׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Michail Cheraskov
Why does the Lord persist in admonishing Balaam despite his obstinacy and hardness of heart? It is because He desires to do everything possible to instruct the sinner, rendering him defenseless. God even strikes fear into him through the miraculous speech of the donkey and the vision of the angel, so that Balaam might understand the care God has for the people of Israel. It may have also been essential for the dignitaries of Balak, who were with Balaam, to grasp this according to God's will. Some suggest that this angel is Michael, the representative of the people of Israel.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Prov 28:18He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse in his ways, shall fall at once.
- Num 22:22And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.
- Acts 13:10Said: O full of all guile and of all deceit, child of the devil, enemy of all justice, thou ceases not to pervert the right ways of the Lord.
- Prov 28:6Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich in crooked ways.
- Prov 14:2He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by him that goeth by an infamous way.
- Num 22:20God therefore came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: If these men be come to call thee, arise and go with them: yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee.
- Jonah 4:11And shall I not spare Ninive, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons, that know how to distinguish between their right hand and their left, and many beasts?
- 2 Pet 2:14Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls: having their heart exercised with covetousness: children of malediction.