His iniquity. Or, “his own transgression [of the law].” Balaam’s wrongdoing was neither unnoticed nor unrebuked, and Peter implies that the false teachers’ conduct will not go unpunished.
Ass. Gr. hupozugios, literally, “under a yoke,” applied to the ass as the common beast of burden in the East.
Speaking. Gr. phtheggomai, “to give out a sound,” “to utter [a cry or a noise],” used for any noise made by men or animals and does not necessarily refer to articulate speech. Hence Peter defines the noise made by the ass as “man’s voice” (cf. Num. 22:27-31).
Forbad. Or, “restrained,” “checked.” The phenomenon of the speaking ass halted Balaam in his rebellious course and enabled him to recognize the angel and be responsive to divine directions.
Madness. Here, the state of being beside oneself. Had Balaam kept his senses, refusing to be imbalanced by covetous desires, he would not have erred so grievously.
The apostle again leaves his readers to apply the illustration to the false teachers, who followed in the way of Balaam.
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