Numbers Chapter 23 verse 1 Holy Bible
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
read chapter 23 in ASV
And Balaam said to Balak, Make me here seven altars and get ready seven oxen and seven male sheep.
read chapter 23 in BBE
And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
read chapter 23 in KJV
And Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
read chapter 23 in WBT
Balaam said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
read chapter 23 in WEB
And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Build for me in this `place' seven altars, and make ready for me in this `place' seven bullocks and seven rams.'
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryChapter 23:1. - Build me here seven altars. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his favourable consideration on their side. The number seven was especially connected with the revelation of the tree God, the Creator of the world, and was probably observed here for this reason. The sacrifices were offered no doubt to Jehovah.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXXIII.(1) Build me here seven altars.--The patriarchs of old, as their pious descendants after the giving of the Law, never erected more than one altar in one place. A plurality of altars was the badge of idolatry. Hengsten-berg adduces several instances in proof that the ancients were accustomed to have recourse to sacrifice and conjuration in order to avert calamity and produce prosperity. (History of Balaam and his Prophecies, p. 392.) The number seven was regarded as significant among the Greeks and Romans, as well as among the Israelites.