Leviticus 22
Numbers 22 takes place while Israel is camped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. Balak, king of Moab, fears Israel after hearing of its victories and sends for Balaam, a well-known diviner or seer, hoping Balaam will curse Israel.
1verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2verse“Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name. I am the LORD.
3verse“Tell them, ‘If anyone of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to the LORD, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am the LORD.
4verse“‘Whoever of the offspring of Aaron is a leper or has a discharge shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man who has a seminal emission,
5verseor whoever touches any creeping thing by which he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has—
6versethe person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bathes his body in water.
7verseWhen the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.
8verseHe shall not eat that which dies of itself or is torn by animals, defiling himself by it. I am the LORD.
9verse“‘They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
10verse“‘No stranger shall eat of the holy thing: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.
11verseBut if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and those who are born in his house shall eat of his bread.
12verseIf a priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things.
13verseBut if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s bread; but no stranger shall eat any of it.
14verse“‘If a man eats something holy unwittingly, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the holy thing to the priest.
15verseThe priests shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to the LORD,
16verseand so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt when they eat their holy things; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”
17verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
18verse“Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘Whoever is of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners in Israel, who offers his offering, whether it is any of their vows or any of their free will offerings, which they offer to the LORD for a burnt offering:
19versethat you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.
20verseBut you shall not offer whatever has a defect, for it shall not be acceptable for you.
21verseWhoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to accomplish a vow, or for a free will offering of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted. It shall have no defect.
22verseYou shall not offer what is blind, is injured, is maimed, has a wart, is festering, or has a running sore to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to the LORD.
23verseEither a bull or a lamb that has any deformity or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a free will offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
24verseYou must not offer to the LORD that which has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. You must not do this in your land.
25verseYou must not offer any of these as the bread of your God from the hand of a foreigner, because their corruption is in them. There is a defect in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’”
26verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
27verse“When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to the LORD.
28verseWhether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day.
29verse“When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.
30verseIt shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until the morning. I am the LORD.
31verse“Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them. I am the LORD.
32verseYou shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who makes you holy,
33versewho brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am the LORD.”
Balak’s Fear and His Plan
Balak’s actions are driven by fear of Israel’s growing presence near Moab. Instead of confronting Israel only by military means, he seeks help through Balaam, believing that a spoken curse might weaken Israel. The chapter therefore contrasts political anxiety and human calculation with God’s stated purpose for Israel.
Balaam and God’s Will
Balaam receives Balak’s request and inquires of God. God first tells him not to go and not to curse Israel, because Israel is blessed. When Balak sends more prominent messengers with greater promises of reward, Balaam asks again. God permits Balaam to go, but only on the condition that he speak what God commands. The narrative presents a tension between Balaam’s outward obedience and the motives suggested by his willingness to continue negotiating.
The Incident of Balaam’s Donkey
On the journey, the angel of the LORD blocks Balaam’s path. Balaam does not see the angel, but his donkey does and turns aside three times. After Balaam strikes the donkey, God opens the donkey’s mouth and then opens Balaam’s eyes to see the angel. This unusual scene highlights the limits of human perception and the need to submit to God’s word rather than personal ambition.
Conclusion and Meaning
Numbers 22 emphasizes that Israel’s future cannot be determined by Balak’s fear or Balaam’s skill. The chapter also warns that religious language can be mixed with self-interest, and that God’s instruction must not be treated as something to negotiate for personal advantage.
Points to Reflect On
- Discerning motives: The passage invites readers to examine whether obedience is being shaped by God’s word or by reward, pressure, and fear.
- Recognizing God’s sovereignty: Balak’s plans and Balaam’s journey show that human strategies remain limited before God’s stated purpose.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Consider whether there are areas where personal desire or outside pressure makes it harder to listen clearly to God’s instruction.
- Reflect on the need for humility, since the narrative shows that even a diviner can fail to perceive what a donkey sees.
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