22:18 Balaam replied 5 to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment 6 of the Lord my God 7 to do less or more.
1 tn The Hebrew text uses what is called the “ethical dative” – “make [for] you two trumpets.” It need not be translated, but can simply be taken to underscore the direct imperative.
2 tn The imperfect tense is again instruction or legislation.
3 sn The instructions are not clearly spelled out here. But the trumpets were to be made of silver ingots beaten out into a sheet of silver and then bent to form a trumpet. There is archaeological evidence of silver smelting as early as 3000
4 tn Heb “and they shall be for you for assembling,” which is the way of expressing possession. Here the intent concerns how Moses was to use them.
5 tn Heb “answered and said.”
6 tn Heb “mouth.”
7 sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.
8 tn Heb “I am not able to go beyond.”
9 tn Heb “mouth.”
10 tn Heb “from my heart.”