Numbers 24:21

21 In his vision he saw the Kenites, and uttered this prophecy: "The place where you live is secure, Safe as a nest set high on a cliff,

Numbers 24:21 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:21

And he looked on the Kenites
Not the family and posterity of Jethro, as Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Abendana; for they were not a people by themselves, but were now encamped with Israel, and went with them into the land of Canaan, and were not carried captive with the ten tribes, though some might that dwelt in Naphtali, ( Judges 9:4 Judges 9:11 Judges 9:17 ) , for they after that remained with Judah under the name of Rechabites, ( Jeremiah 35:2 ) and returned with the two tribes, being carried captive with them, ( 1 Chronicles 2:55 ) but they were a people, though of the same original and family Jethro descended from, which dwelt near, and afterwards among the Amalekites, and therefore were seen by Balaam, and taken notice of at the same time they were; see ( 1 Samuel 15:6 ) . Abarbinel takes them to be the same with those in ( Genesis 15:19 )

and took up his parable;
or prophecy concerning them, and delivered it:

and said, strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a
rock,
they dwelling in craggy rocky places, where they thought themselves secure and out of danger; and this their habitation he calls "Ken", a nest, in allusion to their name Kenites.

Numbers 24:21 In-Context

19 The nation of Israel will trample them down And wipe out the last survivors."

20 Then in his vision Balaam saw the Amalekites and uttered this prophecy: "Amalek was the most powerful nation of all, But at the end it will perish forever."

21 In his vision he saw the Kenites, and uttered this prophecy: "The place where you live is secure, Safe as a nest set high on a cliff,

22 But you Kenites will be destroyed When Assyria takes you captive."

23 Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Who are these people gathering in the north?