SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:33
El asna me ha visto, y se ha apartado luego de delante de mí estas tres veces; y si de mí no se hubiera apartado, yo también ahora te mataría a ti, y a ella dejaría viva.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 22:33
Verse 33. Surely now also I had slain thee] How often are the meanest animals, and the most trivial occurrences, instruments of the preservation of our lives, and of the salvation of our souls! The messenger of justice would have killed Balaam, had not the mercy of God prevented the ass from proceeding.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 33. And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times , etc.] The ass saw the angel when Balaam did not, and that was the reason of its turning aside; and it was well for him it did, and therefore he should not have smote it: unless she had turned from me ; if she had pushed on, endeavouring to make her way: surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive ; had certainly and only slain him, and not the ass; and from hence the Jewish writers f352 gather, that the ass was now slain, lest it should be said, this is the ass that spoke, and so be made an idol of.
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
ותראני 7200 האתון 860 ותט 5186 לפני 6440 זה 2088 שׁלשׁ 7969 רגלים 7272 אולי 194 נטתה 5186 מפני 6440 כי 3588 עתה 6258 גם 1571 אתכה 853 הרגתי 2026 ואותה 853 החייתי׃ 2421
