Numbers 23:24

24 A people now rises like a lioness, like a lion it stands up. It doesn't lie down until it eats the prey and drinks the blood of the slain."

Numbers 23:24 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 23:24

Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion
Or rather, "as the lioness" ^F14, which, as Aelianus says ^F15, is the strongest and most warlike beast, the most fierce and furious, as is believed both by Greeks and Barbarians; and he mentions the heroism of Perdiccas the Macedonian, and Semiramis the Assyrian, in engaging with and killing, not the lion or leopard, but lioness:

and shall lift up himself as a young lion;
both phrases denoting the courage and strength of the people of Israel, in attacking their enemies and engaging them:

he shall not lie down;
being once roused up and engaged in war:

until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain;
as the lion does when it has seized on a creature, tears it to pieces, eats its flesh and drinks its blood: this may refer to the slaughter of the Midianites that would be quickly made, and among the slain of whom Balaam himself was, ( Numbers 31:7 Numbers 31:8 ) , and to the slaughter and conquest of the Canaanites under Joshua, and taking their spoils.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (ayblk) "ut leaena", V. L. Tigurine version.
F15 Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 39. Vid. Herodot. Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 108.

Numbers 23:24 In-Context

22 God, who brought them out of Egypt, is like a magnificent wild bull for him.

23 There is no omen against Jacob, no divination against Israel. Instantly it is told to Jacob, and to Israel, what God performs.

24 A people now rises like a lioness, like a lion it stands up. It doesn't lie down until it eats the prey and drinks the blood of the slain."

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Don't curse them or bless them."

26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Didn't I say to you, ‘I'll do whatever the LORD tells me to'?"