Numbers 22:27 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down with Balaam still on her back. This made Balaam furious, and he beat the donkey with his stick.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is showing how Balaam became angry and violent toward his donkey because he couldn't see what she could see - God's angel blocking their path.

📚 Historical Context

This occurs during Balaam's journey to curse the Israelites at the request of King Balak of Moab. God had reluctantly allowed Balaam to go, but sent an angel to block his path. Balaam, a pagan prophet who should have been spiritually discerning, was ironically blind to what his own animal could clearly see.

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Numbers 22:28

And the LORD enabled the donkey to speak, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you that you have beaten me three times?'

2 Peter 2:16

But he got called out for doing wrong: his donkey literally started talking like a human to stop the prophet from making a huge mistake.

Numbers 22:29

Balaam said to his donkey, 'You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword with me right now, I would kill you!'

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