Discovery BoxNumbers 12:8 
Context12:8 With him I will speak face to face, 1 openly, 2 and not in riddles; and he will see the form 3 of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
Numbers 22:35
Context22:35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you may only speak 4 the word that I will speak to you.” 5 So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 22:38
Context22:38 Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able 6 to speak 7 just anything? I must speak 8 only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
1 tn The emphasis of the line is clear enough – it begins literally “mouth to mouth” I will speak with him. In human communication this would mean equality of rank, but Moses is certainly not equal in rank with the
2 tn The word מַרְאֶה (mar’eh) refers to what is seen, a vision, an appearance. Here it would have the idea of that which is clearly visible, open, obvious.
3 tn The word “form” (תְּמוּנָה, tÿmunah) means “shape, image, form.” The Greek text took it metaphorically and rendered it “the glory of the
4 tn The imperfect tense here can be given the nuance of permission.
5 tn The Hebrew word order is a little more emphatic than this: “but only the word which I speak to you, it you shall speak.”
6 tn The verb is אוּכַל (’ukhal) in a question – “am I able?” But emphasizing this is the infinitive absolute before it. So Balaam is saying something like, “Can I really say anything?”
7 tn The Piel infinitive construct (without the preposition) serves as the object of the verb “to be able.” The whole question is rhetorical – he is saying that he will not be able to say anything God does not allow him to say.
8 tn The imperfect tense is here taken as an obligatory imperfect.
