In Job 42:8 seven bulls and seven rams were offered to YHWH by Job after having his amazing and life-changing encounter and conversation with YHWH. Job sacrificed on behalf of his "counselors" having forgiven them for their mis-counsel and asking YHWH to forgive them, also. In Numbers 23, Balaam also asks that seven bulls and seven rams be offered to YHWH on the high places where Balak took him to curse Israel. Unlike Job, Balaam asked for seven different altars instead of just one. Perhaps this was to have all sacrificed at the same time. Maybe it was a custom to do so among those who followed YHWH, or maybe having seven altars was the practice of the pagans when they sacrificed to multiple idols. We really don't know why Balaam asked for seven altars, but we do know that the number seven is so often referred to in Scripture and may therefore be a number to symbolize perfection of completeness or a reverend way to honor God.
In Nu. 22:40, Balak offered oxen and sheep on the high place before he sent for Balaam. So apparently, offering oxen and sheep was common for the Moabites (descendants of Lot) also. The next day (vs. 41) Balak took Balaam and took him up to the high places of Baal in order to view the Israelites camped below. We do not know if Balak worshipped Baal or not, but it seems so, but maybe most of the mountains in the area were places where altars were set up to sacrifice to Baal and so, in order to view the encampment one needed to go to a mountain which happened to be a place of Baal worship, as vs, 41 seems to imply.
Num. 23:1 When both Balaam and Balak were on this high place, Balaam asks for seven altars to be built and seven bullocks and seven rams to be brought to him on the mountain to be sacrificed. Balak did as Balaam asked. It was Balaam who did the sacrificing, but it was not to Baal, but YHWH. Balaam asked Balak to stand by the sacrifice. ..... cont. Pt. 3
Continued...
In Job 42:8 seven bulls and seven rams were offered to YHWH by Job after having his amazing and life-changing encounter and conversation with YHWH. Job sacrificed on behalf of his "counselors" having forgiven them for their mis-counsel and asking YHWH to forgive them, also. In Numbers 23, Balaam also asks that seven bulls and seven rams be offered to YHWH on the high places where Balak took him to curse Israel. Unlike Job, Balaam asked for seven different altars instead of just one. Perhaps this was to have all sacrificed at the same time. Maybe it was a custom to do so among those who followed YHWH, or maybe having seven altars was the practice of the pagans when they sacrificed to multiple idols. We really don't know why Balaam asked for seven altars, but we do know that the number seven is so often referred to in Scripture and may therefore be a number to symbolize perfection of completeness or a reverend way to honor God.
In Nu. 22:40, Balak offered oxen and sheep on the high place before he sent for Balaam. So apparently, offering oxen and sheep was common for the Moabites (descendants of Lot) also. The next day (vs. 41) Balak took Balaam and took him up to the high places of Baal in order to view the Israelites camped below. We do not know if Balak worshipped Baal or not, but it seems so, but maybe most of the mountains in the area were places where altars were set up to sacrifice to Baal and so, in order to view the encampment one needed to go to a mountain which happened to be a place of Baal worship, as vs, 41 seems to imply.
Num. 23:1 When both Balaam and Balak were on this high place, Balaam asks for seven altars to be built and seven bullocks and seven rams to be brought to him on the mountain to be sacrificed. Balak did as Balaam asked. It was Balaam who did the sacrificing, but it was not to Baal, but YHWH. Balaam asked Balak to stand by the sacrifice. ..... cont. Pt. 3
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