Numbers 24:15-25

Listen to Numbers 24:15-25

Balaam’s Final Oracle

15 ¹And he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of ²the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, ³falling down with his eyes uncovered:

17 ⁴I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: ⁵a star shall come out of Jacob, and ⁶a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall ⁷crush the forehead^[a] of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

18 ⁸Edom shall be dispossessed; ⁹Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly.

19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities! ”

20 Then he looked on Amalek and ¹⁰took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first among the nations, ¹¹but its end is utter destruction. ”

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive. ”

23 And he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?

24 But ships shall come from ¹²Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and ¹³Eber; and he too ¹⁴shall come to utter destruction. ”

25 Then Balaam rose and ¹⁵went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

Read Chapter Compare Translations Commentaries Cross References

Numbers 24:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 24

In this chapter we are told, that Balaam leaving his enchantments, the Spirit of God came on him, and he spake of the happiness of Israel, and prophesied of their future greatness and glory, Nu 24:1-9 which so exasperated Balak, that he ordered him at once to depart from him, Nu 24:10,11. Balaam justified himself in what he said and did, and suggested that before they parted, he had something to say in a prophetic manner, concerning what Israel should do to Moab in "future" times, Nu 24:12-14 and then prophesies concerning the Messiah, and the destruction of Moab, and of some neighbouring nations, and even of some at a greater distance, as the Assyrians and Romans, Nu 24:15-25.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Cross References 15

1. 24:15 [ch. 21:27]; See ch. 23:7
2. 24:16 Acts 7:48
3. 24:16 See ver. 4
4. 24:17 [ch. 23:9]
5. 24:17 Matt. 2:2; Rev. 22:16
6. 24:17 Gen. 49:10
7. 24:17 Jer. 48:45; [2 Sam. 8:2]
8. 24:18 [2 Sam. 8:14; Ps. 60:8, 9; Amos 9:12]
9. 24:18 Gen. 32:3; 36:8
10. 24:20 See ch. 23:7
11. 24:20 [Ex. 17:14; 1 Sam. 15:3, 8]
12. 24:24 Gen. 10:4; Dan. 11:30
13. 24:24 Gen. 10:21, 25
14. 24:24 ver. 20
15. 24:25 [ch. 31:8]

Footnotes 1

[a] 24:17 Hebrew 'corners' [of the head]