SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:29
Y Balaam respondió al asna: Porque te has burlado de mí. ¡Si tuviera espada en mi mano, ahora te mataría!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 29. And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me , etc.] Or rather “defiled me”, as the word is rendered in ( Job 16:15) by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it, ``because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;” the sense of mocking is not easy to be understood, unless it be that it exposed him to be mocked and laughed at by others, by turning aside, and lying down, and being so unruly; but then there were only his servants with him, to whom only he could be exposed in such a manner, which one would think would not have given him so much concern, and put him into such a passion: the word sometimes is used for seeking occasion, and such a sense it may have here, as that it sought an opportunity or occasion to throw him, and so to kill him, or at least to do him harm, (see Daniel 6:4) I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee : so enraged was he, and his passion was so great, that he was not at all frightened and amazed to hear the ass speak, though Josephus f349 represents him as disturbed and astonished at it; but some think, he being used to converse with spirits in the shapes of various creatures, it was no surprise to him to hear it speak.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-35 - We must not think, that because God does not always by his providenc restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is no hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perhaps are employed i preventing it more than we are aware. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; those are really ou best friends, and we ought so to reckon them, who stop our progress i sinful ways. Balaam has notice of God's displeasure by the ass. It is common for those whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil, to pus on violently, through the difficulties Providence lays in their way The Lord opened the mouth of the ass. This was a great miracle wrough by the power of God. He who made man speak, could, when he pleased make the ass to speak with man's voice. The ass complained of Balaam' cruelty. The righteous God does not allow the meanest or weakest to be abused; but they shall be able to speak in their own defence, or he will some way or other speak for them. Balaam at length has his eye opened. God has many ways to bring down the hard and unhumbled heart When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful ways, an how much it was for our advantage to be crossed. Balaam seemed to relent; I have sinned; but it does not appear that he was sensible of this wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it. If he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content, since there is no remedy, to go back. Thus many leave their sins, only because their sins have lef them. The angel declared that he should not only be unable to curs Israel, but should be forced to bless them: this would be more for the glory of God, and to his own confusion, than if he had turned back.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 בלעם 1109 לאתון 860 כי 3588 התעללת 5953 בי לו 3863 ישׁ 3426 חרב 2719 בידי 3027 כי 3588 עתה 6258 הרגתיך׃ 2026
