Numbers 23:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And when he had brought him to a high place, upon the top of mount Phasga, Balaam built seven altars, and laying on every one a calf and a ram,
Douay-Rheims

וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

After reproaching Balaam for this matter and chastising the fowler, Balak promptly took him to different mountains. He then commanded the construction of an altar and the offering of bulls, believing that God's authority might not extend to every location.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Num 23:1And Balaam said to Balac: Build me here seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams.
Num 23:2And when he had done according to the word of Balaam, they laid together a calf and a ram upon every altar.
Isa 46:6You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and worship.
Isa 1:10Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha.
Isa 1:11To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats.
Hos 12:11If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
Deut 3:27Go up to the top of Phasga, and cast thy eyes round about to the west, and to the north, and to the south, and to the east, and behold it, for thou shalt not pass this Jordan.
Num 21:20From Bamoth, is a valley in the country of Moab, to the top of Phasga, which looked towards the desert.