Chapter 23

23:7  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

and said

In the prophecies of Balaam God testifies on behalf of His people rather than (as usual) to them. It is the divine testimony to their standing as a redeemed people in view of the serpent "lifted up," and of the water from the smitten rock. Numbers 21:5-9 ; 20:11 . Their state was morally bad, but this was a matter concerning the discipline of God, not His judgment. The interpretation of the prophecies is literal as to Israel, typical as to Christians. Through Christ "lifted up" John 3:14 our standing is eternally secure and perfect, though our state may require the Father's discipline ; 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 ; 2 Corinthians 1:4-9 ; 1:10-13 meantime, against all enemies, God is "for us." Romans 8:31 .

23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

repent

Scofield " Zechariah 8:14 ".

23:22  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

unicorn

i.e. the aurochs, or wild ox.