And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Balak said to Balaam, 'Didn't I urgently send messengers to summon you? Why didn't you come to me right away? Am I not able to give you great honor and rewards?'
King Balak is frustrated with Balaam for not coming immediately when first summoned, and he's reminding Balaam of the rewards and honor he could have received.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Numbers, Balak, the king of Moab, was alarmed by the Israelites' military successes and sought to hire Balaam, a pagan prophet known for his curses, to weaken them as they approached his territory. Balaam had been summoned earlier but delayed his arrival due to divine instructions from God, who warned him not to curse the Israelites. In this verse, Balak expresses irritation at the delay and reminds Balaam of his power to offer great rewards.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.