It is necessary, as you will see in the progress of this discourse, particularly to observe what he understood by _righteous_. And he himself is introduced in the book of Micah {18} explaining it; if by _righteous_ is meant _good_, as to be sure it is. _O my people_, _remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted_, _and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal_. From the mention of Shittim it is manifest that it is this very story which is here referred to, though another part of it, the account of which is not now extant; as there are many quotations in Scripture out of books which are not come down to us. _Remember what Balaam answered_, _that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord_; _i.e._, the righteousness which God will accept. Balak demands, _Wherewith shall I come before the Lord_, _and bow myself before the high God_? _Shall I come before him with burnt- offerings_, _with calves of a year old_? _Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams_, _or with ten thousands of rivers of oil_? _Shall I give my first-born for my transgression_, _the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul_? Balaam answers him, _he hath showed thee_, _O man_, _what is good_: _and what doth the Lord require of thee_, _but to do justly_, _and to love mercy_, _and to walk humbly with thy God_? Here is a good man expressly characterised, as distinct from a dishonest and a superstitious man. No words can more strongly exclude dishonesty and falseness of heart than _doing justice and loving mercy_; and both these, as well as _walking humbly with God_, are put in opposition to those ceremonial methods of recommendation, which Balak hoped might have served the turn. From hence appears what he meant by the _righteous_, whose _death_ he desires to die.