Numbers 24:8

8 God, who brings him out from Egypt, [is] like the strength of a wild ox for him. He will devour [the] nations [who are] his enemies; he will break their bones; he will pierce [them with] his arrows.

Numbers 24:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:8

God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the
strength of an unicorn
Here he repeats what he had said in a former prophecy, (See Gill on Numbers 23:22): he shall eat up the nations his enemies: the seven nations of Canaan, which should be subdued by Israel, and that with as much ease as a lion devours its prey; nor would the Canaanites be able to make any more resistance to them than a creature in the paws of a lion; and the phrase denotes the utter destruction of them:

and shall break their bones;
as the lion breaks the bones of such creatures that fall a prey to him; signifying that all their strength should be taken from them, their mighty men slain, and their fortified cities taken:

and pierce [them] through with his arrows:
slay them utterly.

Numbers 24:8 In-Context

6 They are spread out like valleys, like gardens on a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars at [the] waters.

7 He will pour water from his buckets, and his offspring [will be] like many waters; his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God, who brings him out from Egypt, [is] like the strength of a wild ox for him. He will devour [the] nations [who are] his enemies; he will break their bones; he will pierce [them with] his arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him? [They who] bless you will be blessed, and [they who] curse you will be cursed."

10 Then {Balak became angry with} Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed [them] these three times.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "the horns"