Lexical Summary mishol: Pathway, trail, track Original Word: מִשְׁעוֹל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance path From the same as sho'al; a hollow, i.e. A narrow passage -- path. see HEBREW sho'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as shoal Definition a hollow passage NASB Translation narrow path (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִשְׁעוֺל noun masculine hollow way, road shut in; — construct הַכְּרָמִים ׳מ Numbers 22:24 (JE) i.e. road shut in between vineyards. II. שׁעל (√of following; Late Hebrew שׁוּעָל, שׁעל; Arabic Topical Lexicon Occurrence in Scripture Numbers 22:24 records the sole use of מִשְׁעוֹל: “Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.” Narrative Setting The incident unfolds on Balaam’s journey from Pethor to Moab. While Balaam rides intent on cursing Israel for Balak’s reward, the Angel of the LORD intercepts him three times. The מִשְׁעוֹל is the second interception point—tight, hemmed in by vineyard walls, allowing no maneuvering. Balaam’s donkey, perceiving the heavenly obstruction, presses Balaam’s foot against the wall; Balaam responds with violence, exposing his spiritual blindness. Cultural and Geographical Background Terraced hillsides throughout the ancient Levant were lined with low stone walls that protected vineyards from erosion and animals. Between these terraces, narrow paths served laborers and pack animals. Such lanes could scarcely accommodate two animals abreast, making them ideal for ambush—whether by robbers (compare Luke 10:30) or, in this unique case, by the Angel of the LORD. Symbolic and Theological Themes • Divine Confrontation in Confinement The constricted path dramatizes the inevitability of divine reckoning. Balaam’s freedom shrinks as his rebellion persists, underscoring Psalm 139:5, “You hem me in behind and before.” The LORD can turn any ordinary lane into a place of judgment. • Sight versus Blindness The donkey’s open eyes versus Balaam’s closed heart illustrate 2 Kings 6:17; spiritual perception matters more than physical vision. • The Path of Obedience Throughout Scripture the imagery of a pathway conveys moral direction (Proverbs 4:11, Isaiah 30:21). Balaam’s מִשְׁעוֹל becomes an emblem of the “way of the righteous” confronted by the “way that seems right to a man” (Proverbs 14:12). • Covenant Protection Israel, encamped nearby, remains unaware, yet God guards His people upstream of threat. The scene prefigures Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” New Testament Resonance The restrictive character of the מִשְׁעוֹל anticipates Jesus’ teaching: “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13-14). Balaam’s foot crushed against stone contrasts with believers who stand on the “Rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Pastoral and Devotional Reflections 1. Divine roadblocks are mercies. What feels like confinement can avert catastrophic disobedience. Homiletical Uses • “The Narrow Passage of Providence” — a sermon on God’s intervening obstacles. Related Passages for Study Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 17:5; Isaiah 35:8; Jeremiah 6:16; 2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14. Ministry Significance Today Counseling, discipleship, and mission strategy all benefit from recognizing divine constraints. Leaders may interpret closed doors not merely as opposition but as protective guidance. Moreover, the passage commands vigilance lest ministry drift toward Balaam’s error—monetizing gifts while losing sight of the God who gave them. Thus, the single מִשְׁעוֹל of Numbers 22:24 speaks with enduring clarity: God narrows the path not to imprison His servants but to align them with His irrevocable blessing. Forms and Transliterations בְּמִשְׁע֖וֹל במשעול bə·miš·‘ō·wl bəmiš‘ōwl bemisholLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 22:24 HEB: מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה בְּמִשְׁע֖וֹל הַכְּרָמִ֑ים גָּדֵ֥ר NAS: stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, KJV: stood in a path of the vineyards, INT: the angel of the LORD A narrow of the vineyards a wall 1 Occurrence |
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, 
; Aramaic תַּעֲלָא, 
all = Biblical Hebrew שׁוּעָל).