Numbers 23:3

23:3 Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself ¹  by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me ²  I will tell you.” ³  Then he went to a deserted height. ⁴ 

Numbers 23:15

23:15 And Balaam ⁵  said to Balak, “Station yourself here ⁶  by your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord there.

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¹ tn The verb הִתְיַצֵּב (hityatsev) means “to take a stand, station oneself.” It is more intentional than simply standing by something. He was to position himself by the sacrifice as Balaam withdrew to seek the oracle.

² tn Heb “and the word of what he shows me.” The noun is in construct, and so the clause that follows functions as a noun clause in the genitive. The point is that the word will consist of divine revelation.

³ tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive. This clause is dependent on the clause that precedes it.

⁴ sn He went up to a bald spot, to a barren height. The statement underscores the general belief that such tops were the closest things to the gods. On such heights people built their shrines and temples.

⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn The verse uses כֹּה (koh) twice: “Station yourself here…I will meet [the Lord] there.”