SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:8
Y él les dijo: Reposad aquí esta noche, y yo os recitaré las palabras, cuando el SEÑOR me hablare. Así los príncipes de Moab se quedaron con Balaam.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:8
Verse 8. I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak] So it appears he knew the true God, and had been in the habit of consulting him, and receiving oracles from his mouth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. And he said unto them, lodge here this night , etc.] Which shows that he was at once inclined to do their business for them, and would readily engage in it if he could be permitted; and it looks as if it was in the night season that he got knowledge of things, either in dreams, or by familiar spirits, or by consulting the stars, or other methods used by him at such seasons; or it may be, this was only said to get time before he gave them a peremptory answer, that he might, if he could, get leave to do what they desired, to which he showed a good inclination: and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me ; by which it appears he had some knowledge of the true God, and pretended great familiarity with him, thereby to make himself the more respectable; and indeed he was surprisingly favoured with some degree of intimacy with him, which, for the sake of Israel, he was now admitted to; whether at any other time, or on any other occasion, is not certain; however, he promised the princes he would let them know the next morning what was said to him, and so accordingly what he should or could do: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam ; that is, that night, and so very probably the princes of Midian likewise; though some of the Jewish writers think they departed as soon as they heard Balaam say he would consult the Lord about this matter; from whence they concluded there was no room to hope for success, since he would never consent to destroy a nation so dear unto him, and for whose sake he had wrought so many miracles; but if this was the case, how came the princes of Moab to stay, with whom the same objection would have place? but the reason why they only are named may be what Aben Ezra gives an hint of, that these were the principal persons in the embassy, in whom the rest were included, as Balak their king was the principal person that sent them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - The king of Moab formed a plan to get the people of Israel cursed; tha is, to set God against them, who had hitherto fought for them. He had false notion, that if he could get some prophet to pray for evil upo them, and to pronounce a blessing upon himself and his forces, tha then he should be able to deal with them. None had so great reputation as Balaam; and Balak will employ him, though he send a grea way for him. It is not known whether the Lord had ever spoken to Balaam, or by him, before this; though it is probable he had, and it is certain he did afterwards. Yet we have abundant proof that he lived an died a wicked man, an enemy to God and his people. And the curse shal not come upon us if there is not a cause, even though men utter it. To prevail with Balaam, they took the wages of unrighteousness, but God laid restraint upon Balaam, forbidding him to curse Israel. Balaam wa no stranger to Israel's cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God ha blessed; but he takes a night's time to consider what he should do When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God's answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan's temptation, who lesse Divine restraints; as if to go against God's law were only to go without his leave. The messengers also are not faithful in returnin Balaam's answer to Balak. Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them, and are prevented from seeing their own faults an follies.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 אליהם 413 לינו 3885 פה 6311 הלילה 3915 והשׁבתי 7725 אתכם 853 דבר 1697 כאשׁר 834 ידבר 1696 יהוה 3068 אלי 413 וישׁבו 3427 שׂרי 8269 מואב 4124 עם 5973 בלעם׃ 1109
