The Meaning of Numbers 23:14 Explained

Numbers 23:14

KJV: And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

YLT: and he taketh him to the field of Zophim, unto the top of Pisgah, and buildeth seven altars, and offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar.

Darby: And he took him to the watchmen's field, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on each altar.

ASV: And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he brought  him into the field  of Zophim,  to the top  of Pisgah,  and built  seven  altars,  and offered  a bullock  and a ram  on [every] altar. 

What does Numbers 23:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 23:13-30 - No Enchantment Against Israel
Balak was surprised and disappointed. He therefore bethought himself of limiting the seer's vision, so that he might see an attenuated Israel from a height that commanded only a partial view of the camp. How often we try to see only what we want to see! How often we shut our eyes to a rival's real merits! Instead of entering into God's great thoughts we shut ourselves up in a tiny limited world. We will not acknowledge what our pride does not want to acknowledge. We are like children building sand-castles against the tide. You had better bring your mind to harmonize with God's facts than minimize or evade their truth. You are hurting yourself, but can never alter them. Take God's way and be at peace!
Let us ponder Numbers 23:21 -it is as we are in God's purpose; and Numbers 23:23 -when faced by our enemies; and Numbers 23:24 -when most convinced of our helplessness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 23

1  Balak's sacrifices

What do the individual words in Numbers 23:14 mean?

So he brought him to the field of Zophim to the top of Pisgah and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on [each] altar
וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־ רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ

וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙  So  he  brought  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
שְׂדֵ֣ה  to  the  field 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
צֹפִ֔ים  of  Zophim 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צֹפִים  
Sense: a spot on or near the top of Pisgah, the site of Balaam’s oracles.
רֹ֖אשׁ  the  top 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה  of  Pisgah 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פִּסְגָּה  
Sense: mountain in Moab on the northeast shore of the Dead Sea; site uncertain.
וַיִּ֙בֶן֙  and  built 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
שִׁבְעָ֣ה  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת  altars 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.
וַיַּ֛עַל  and  offered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
פָּ֥ר  a  bull 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּר  
Sense: .
וָאַ֖יִל  and  a  ram 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַיִל 
Sense: ram.
בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ  on  [each]  altar 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְבֵּחַ  
Sense: altar.