Live-Wire Bible Study - Day 50 - Numbers 22–25 · Luke 1 - FeedTheGoodHorse

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Day 50: Numbers 22–25 · Luke 1 · Commentary · Commentary² · Audio

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• The Bible text is included for reading continuity; it is accurate in substance, aligned with major modern translations, and may be read alongside any Bible you prefer.¹

Special Note about the following Bible text: The following translation uses the Hebrew terms tamé (טָמֵא) and tahor (טָהוֹר) instead of the traditional “unclean” and “clean.” These terms describe ritual status in relation to sanctuary access, not moral fault, shame, or physical dirtiness. A fuller explanation will follow in a dedicated article.

Numbers 22

The sons of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was filled with dread because of the sons of Israel.

Moab said to the elders of Midian:

Now this assembly will lick up everything around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.

Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him. He said:

Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Now please come and curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to strike them and drive them out of the land. For I know that the one you bless is blessed, and the one you curse is cursed.

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with fees for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

He said to them:

Stay here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as Jehovah speaks to me.

So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

God came to Balaam and said:

Who are these men with you?

Balaam said to God:

Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.

God said to Balaam:

You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.

Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak:

Go back to your land, for Jehovah has refused to let me go with you.

The princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said:

Balaam refuses to come with us.

Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honored than these. They came to Balaam and said to him:

Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Please let nothing prevent you from coming to me, for I will surely honor you greatly, and whatever you say to me I will do. Now please come and curse this people for me.

Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak:

If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more. Now stay here tonight as well, that I may know what more Jehovah will say to me.

God came to Balaam at night and said to him:

If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them. But only the word that I speak to you, that you shall do.

Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

God’s anger burned because he went, and the angel of Jehovah stood in the way as an adversary against him. He was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

The donkey saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand. She turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the way.

Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of Jehovah, she pressed herself against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

Then the angel of Jehovah went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of Jehovah, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Jehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam:

What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?

Balaam said to the donkey:

Because you have made a fool of me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.

The donkey said to Balaam:

Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?

He said, “No.”

Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand. He bowed down and fell on his face.

The angel of Jehovah said to him:

Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is reckless before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you and let her live.

Balaam said to the angel of Jehovah:

I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.

The angel of Jehovah said to Balaam:

Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.

So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, at the border formed by the Arnon, at the edge of the territory.

Balak said to Balaam:

Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?

Balaam said to Balak:

Behold, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.

Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent portions to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

In the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people.

Numbers 23

Balak said to Balaam:

Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.

Balak did as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam said to Balak:

Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Jehovah will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.

He went to a bare height.

God met Balaam, and he said to him:

I have arranged the seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said:

Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.

He returned to him. He was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.

He took up his discourse and said:

From Aram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab from the mountains of the east:
Come, curse Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
How shall I denounce whom Jehovah has not denounced?

From the top of the rocks I see him;
from the hills I look upon him.
Behold, a people dwelling alone,
not reckoning itself among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob,
or number even the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his.

Balak said to Balaam:

What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.

He answered:

Must I not speak what Jehovah puts in my mouth?

Balak said to him:

Come with me to another place from which you may see them. You shall see only the edge of them and not all of them. Curse them for me from there.

He took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

He said to Balak:

Stand here beside your burnt offering while I meet him over there.

Jehovah met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said:

Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.

He came to him. He was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. Balak said:

What has Jehovah spoken?

He took up his discourse and said:

Rise, Balak, and hear;
give ear to me, son of Zippor.

God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should repent.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Behold, I have received a command to bless.
He has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

He has not seen iniquity in Jacob,
nor observed trouble in Israel.
Jehovah his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them.

God brings them out of Egypt;
he is for them like the horns of a wild ox.

There is no divination against Jacob,
nor enchantment against Israel.
Now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
What has God done?

Behold, a people rises like a lioness
and lifts itself up like a lion.
It does not lie down until it devours the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain.

Balak said to Balaam:

Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.

Balaam answered:

Did I not tell you, All that Jehovah speaks, I must do?

Balak said to Balaam:

Come, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will be right in the eyes of God that you curse them for me from there.

Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which looks down on the wasteland.

Balaam said to Balak:

Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.

Balak did as Balaam had said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 24

When Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, yet with eyes uncovered:

How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel.
Like valleys that spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that Jehovah has planted,
like cedars beside the waters.

Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be by abundant waters.
His king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.

God brings him out of Egypt;
he is for him like the horns of a wild ox.
He shall devour the nations that are his adversaries,
break their bones in pieces,
and pierce them through with his arrows.

He crouched; he lay down like a lion,
and like a lioness—who will rouse him?
Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.

Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together.

Balak said to Balaam:

I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Now flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but behold, Jehovah has kept you back from honor.

Balaam said to Balak:

Did I not also say to your messengers whom you sent to me, If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do good or bad from my own heart? What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak.

And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.

He took up his discourse and said:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
the oracle of him who hears the words of God
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, yet with eyes uncovered:

I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of tumult.

Edom shall be dispossessed;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel shall act with strength.

One from Jacob shall rule
and destroy the survivors of the city.

He looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said:

Amalek was the first of the nations,
but his end shall be destruction.

He looked on the Kenite and took up his discourse and said:

Enduring is your dwelling place,
and your nest is set in the rock.
Yet Kain shall be burned,
until Asshur carries you away captive.

He took up his discourse and said:

Alas, who shall live when God does this?
Ships shall come from the coast of Kittim
and shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber;
and he also shall come to destruction.

Then Balaam rose and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way.

Numbers 25

Israel remained at Shittim, and the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods. Israel joined itself to Baal of Peor, and the anger of Jehovah burned against Israel.

Jehovah said to Moses:

Take all the leaders of the people and hang them before Jehovah in the sun, so that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.

Moses said to the judges of Israel:

Each of you kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.

Behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his brothers in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand. He went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them—the man of Israel and the woman—through her body. So the plague was stopped among the sons of Israel. Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Jehovah spoke to Moses:

Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the sons of Israel because he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the sons of Israel in my jealousy.

Therefore say:

Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace. It shall be to him and to his descendants after him a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.

The name of the man of Israel who was struck down, who was struck down with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, leader of a father’s house among the Simeonites. The name of the Midianite woman who was struck down was Cozbi daughter of Zur, who was head of a people and of a father’s house in Midian.

Jehovah spoke to Moses:

Harass the Midianites and strike them, for they harassed you with their schemes by which they deceived you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister, who was struck down on the day of the plague because of Peor.

Luke — Context

In the Gospel of Luke the story pauses to notice people - what they ask, what they fear, what they begin to understand. Events do not rush past; they unfold through encounters. Questions surface again and again. Someone hears a promise and wonders what it means. Someone receives mercy and cannot explain why. Recognition often comes quietly, after reflection rather than shock.

Luke lingers where lives change. A conversation, a meal, a moment of attention can shift the direction of a person’s story. Often the reader stands beside those who witness the unfolding events, watching meaning appear gradually in ordinary human moments.

Luke 1

Many people have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the events fulfilled among us, based on what was handed down by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the message. Since I have carefully traced everything from the start, I also decided to write an orderly account for you, most honored Theophilus, so that you may know the reliability of the things you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah from the division of Abijah. His wife was one of the daughters of Aaron; her name was Elizabeth. Both lived rightly before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of Jehovah. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and both were advanced in years.

While Zechariah was serving as priest before God during the time his division was on duty, it fell to him by the custom of the priesthood to enter the temple of Jehovah and burn incense. At the hour of the incense offering the whole crowd of people was praying outside. Then a messenger of Jehovah appeared to him, standing on the right side of the incense altar. When Zechariah saw him he was shaken, and fear came over him.

But the messenger said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your request has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and celebration, and many people will rejoice at his birth, because he will be great in the sight of Jehovah. He must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the holy spirit even from his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the people of Israel back to Jehovah their God. He will go ahead before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of parents toward their children and the disobedient toward the understanding of the just, to prepare for Jehovah a people made ready.”

Zechariah said to the messenger, “How will I know this? I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

The messenger answered, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God. I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. But now you will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not trust my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he was taking so long in the temple. When he came out he was unable to speak to them, and they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

When the days of his service were completed he returned home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived. For five months she kept herself out of public view, saying, “This is what Jehovah has done for me in the days when he looked on me to remove my disgrace among people.”

In the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a young woman pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph from the house of David. The young woman’s name was Mary. The messenger came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one. Jehovah is with you.”

She was deeply troubled by these words and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be. The messenger said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his ancestor. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

Mary said to the messenger, “How will this happen, since I have not had relations with a man?”

The messenger answered, “The holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For this reason the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And look—your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for the one who was called unable to conceive. No spoken word from God will prove impossible.”

Mary said, “Look, I am the servant of Jehovah. Let it happen to me according to your word.” Then the messenger left her.

In those days Mary set out and hurried to the hill country, to a town of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child in her womb leaped, and Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit. She cried out with a loud voice:

“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Why is this granted to me,
that the mother of my lord should come to me?

When the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the child in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed is the one who trusted
that what was spoken to her from Jehovah would be fulfilled.”

Mary said,

“My inner being magnifies Jehovah,
and my spirit rejoices in God my savior,
because he has looked on the humble condition of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,
because the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.

His mercy is for those who respect him
from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones
and lifted up those of low position.

He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped Israel his servant, remembering mercy,
just as he spoke to our ancestors—
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that Jehovah had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No. He will be called John.”

They said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.”

They began making signs to his father to ask what he wanted the child to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over everyone living around them, and all these things were talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone who heard about it kept it in mind and said, “What then will this child become?” Because the hand of Jehovah was with him.

His father Zechariah was filled with the holy spirit and spoke as a prophet:

“Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and accomplished their release.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,

just as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago—

salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us,

to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath he swore to Abraham our ancestor:
that we, rescued from the hand of enemies,
might serve him without fear

in holiness and righteousness before him
all our days.

And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
because you will go ahead before Jehovah to prepare his ways,

to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the deep compassion of our God,
by which the dawn from on high will visit us

to shine on those sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness regions until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Commentary - Day 50

Numbers 22–25 · Luke 1

Numbers 22 opens with Israel camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan. Balak, king of Moab, sees what Israel has done to the Amorites and sends messengers to Balaam with fees for divination, asking that Israel be cursed. Balaam receives the delegation and waits for the word that comes to him in the night. The response forbids him to go and forbids the curse. When a second group arrives with greater promises of honor, Balaam answers again that he cannot go beyond the word spoken by Jehovah.

Balaam rises and goes with the princes of Moab, yet the angel of Jehovah stands in the road with a drawn sword. The donkey sees the figure three times and turns aside, pressing Balaam against the wall and finally lying down beneath him. Balaam’s anger rises, but the animal’s speech interrupts the scene, and Balaam’s eyes are then opened to the angel standing in the path. The exchange repeats the word already given: Balaam may go with the men, but he must speak only the word placed in his mouth.

The episode also introduces an unexpected speaking voice before Balaam’s own prophecies begin. The donkey perceives the angel and speaks before the prophet sees what stands in his path. Luke opens with a similar pattern, where the message arrives first through announced words—through Gabriel, and then through the responses of Mary and Zechariah.

Numbers 23 moves to the heights overlooking Israel. Balak builds altars and offers sacrifices while Balaam waits for the word that will come to him. Each attempt to secure a curse results instead in blessing. From the rocks and hills Balaam speaks of Jacob and Israel spread out below him, a people numerous like the dust of the earth. Balak leads him to other places—Pisgah and then Peor—hoping that another vantage point will change the outcome, but Balaam answers that what Jehovah puts in his mouth is what he must speak.

Numbers 24 continues the series of sayings. Balaam lifts his eyes and sees Israel dwelling tribe by tribe. His words compare the people to valleys spreading out, to gardens beside a river, and to cedars planted beside waters. The blessing speaks again of the God who brought them out of Egypt and compares their strength to the horns of a wild ox. Balak’s anger ends the attempt to purchase a curse. Before departing, Balaam speaks further sayings that name surrounding peoples and places and describe upheaval yet to come. When the words are finished, Balaam returns to his place and Balak also goes his way.

Numbers 25 records events at Shittim. The people are drawn into the sacrifices of the gods of Moab and join themselves to Baal of Peor. The anger of Jehovah burns and a plague begins among the people. While the congregation gathers at the entrance of the tent of meeting, Phinehas son of Eleazar takes a spear and follows the Israelite man and the Midianite woman into the chamber, striking both of them. The plague stops. The text names the man and the woman and records the declaration given afterward: a covenant of peace and a continuing priesthood granted to Phinehas and his descendants.

Luke opens with a statement of purpose addressed to Theophilus. The writer explains that many have undertaken to compile accounts of the events fulfilled among them, based on what eyewitnesses and servants of the message handed down from the beginning. Having traced everything carefully from the start, he writes an orderly account so that the reliability of what has been taught may be known.

The narrative begins during the reign of Herod with Zechariah, a priest serving in the temple. While he burns incense, a messenger announces that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son who will prepare people for Jehovah. Zechariah questions the message and becomes unable to speak until the promise is fulfilled.

Six months later the messenger appears again in Nazareth to Mary. She receives the announcement that she will bear a son who will be given the throne of David and whose kingdom will not end. Mary travels to the hill country to visit Elizabeth. At their meeting the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps, and Elizabeth speaks a blessing over Mary.

Mary answers with words that praise Jehovah for looking upon the humble and lifting those of low position. The song speaks of rulers brought down from their thrones, the hungry filled with good things, and the remembering of mercy promised to Abraham and his descendants.

The chapter closes with the birth of Elizabeth’s son. When the child is named John, Zechariah’s speech returns and he speaks a blessing over the God of Israel who has remembered his covenant and raised up salvation in the house of David. The child grows and becomes strong in spirit in the wilderness regions until the time he appears publicly to Israel.

Israel camps in the plains of Moab, and Balak hires Balaam to curse them. Balaam receives permission to travel but is warned that he may speak only the word given to him. On the road the angel of Jehovah blocks the path, seen first by Balaam’s donkey. From several heights Balak tries to obtain a curse, yet Balaam repeatedly speaks blessing over Israel instead. At Shittim the people join the worship of Baal of Peor, and a plague begins. Phinehas stops the plague by striking the offending couple, and a covenant of continuing priesthood is given to him.

Luke opens with an orderly account addressed to Theophilus. The messenger Gabriel announces the births of John and Jesus. Mary visits Elizabeth, sings of the lifting of the lowly, and John’s birth is followed by Zechariah’s prophetic blessing.”

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