SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:18
Y Balaam respondió, y dijo a los siervos de Balac: Aunque Balac me diese su casa llena de plata y oro, no puedo traspasar la palabra del SEÑOR mi Dios, para hacer cosa chica ni grande.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:18
Verse 18. I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God] Balaam knew God too well to suppose he could reverse any of his purposes; and he respected him too much to attempt to do any thing without his permission. Though he was covetous, yet he dared not, even when strongly tempted both by riches and honours, to go contrary to the command of his God. Many make all the professions of Balaam, without justifying them by their conduct. "They pretend," says one, "they would not do any thing against the word of God for a house full of gold, and yet will do it for a handful!"
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. And Balaam answered, and said unto the servant’s of Balak , etc.] Who were not only princes of the land, but officers of state in the court of Balak: if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more ; which is well spoken, had it been from his heart: he speaks very respectfully of God, calling him by his great and incommunicable name Jehovah, the Being of beings; representing him as the object of his worship and adoration, as he might be along with other gods, which was the practice of the Heathens in those times, particularly the Syrians, among whom Balaam lived; so did Laban and others before him: likewise he makes a profession of him, and claims an interest in him, which he might the rather do, to make himself look greater, as being the servant of the most high God; for the Gentiles in those times, and indeed in later times, had a notion of one supreme God, superior to all the rest; and this Jehovah Balaam claimed as his God: he speaks very well of the word of God, to which he pretended so strict a regard, that he would not transgress it in the least, for all that Balak could give him or more, no, not for all the money in the world; and yet his heart at the same time went after his covetousness, and he was eagerly desirous and greedy of getting the advantages into his hands that were offered him; for he hoped that God would change his mind, and alter his word, and give him leave to go and get the money, as appears by what follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-21 - A second embassy was sent to Balaam. It were well for us, if we were a earnest and constant in prosecuting a good work, notwithstandin disappointments. Balak laid a bait, not only for Balaam's covetousness but for his pride and ambition. How earnestly should we beg of God daily to mortify such desires in us! Thus sinners stick at no pains spare no cost, and care not how low they stoop, to gratify their luxury, or their malice. Shall we then be unwilling to do what is right? God forbid! Balaam's convictions charged him to keep to the command of God; nor could any man have spoken better. But many call God theirs, who are not his, not truly because not only his. There is n judging men by their words; God knows the heart. Balaam's corruption at the same time inclined him to go contrary to the command. He seeme to refuse the temptation; but he expressed no abhorrence of it. He ha a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might give his leave to go. He had already been told what the will of God was. It is certain evidence of the ruling of corruption in the heart, to beg leav to sin. God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. As God sometime denies the prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.
Original Hebrew
ויען 6030 בלעם 1109 ויאמר 559 אל 413 עבדי 5650 בלק 1111 אם 518 יתן 5414 לי בלק 1111 מלא 4393 ביתו 1004 כסף 3701 וזהב 2091 לא 3808 אוכל 3201 לעבר 5674 את 853 פי 6310 יהוה 3068 אלהי 430 לעשׂות 6213 קטנה 6996 או 176 גדולה׃ 1419
