And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
And the people of Moab said to the leaders of Midian, 'This crowd of Israelites will devour everything around us, just like an ox devours all the grass in a field.' At that time, Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of the Moabites.
The Moabites were terrified that the Israelites would consume all their resources and land, comparing them to cattle that eat up entire fields of grass.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred as the Israelites were approaching the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness, and their large numbers intimidated the surrounding nations. The Moabites and Midianites were neighboring peoples who formed an alliance out of fear of Israel's advance. King Balak would later hire the prophet Balaam to curse Israel, leading to one of the most famous stories in Numbers.
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