Numbers 24:9

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."

Numbers 24:9 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:9

He couched
Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab:

he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion;
as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself down and sleeps without concern anywhere:

who shall stir him up?
who dare do it? as it would be a very rash, bold, daring, and dangerous thing to rouse up a lion lying down; so it is suggested it would be alike to provoke Israel to war at some certain times, in the days of David more especially:

blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee;
which are the very words in which Isaac blessed Jacob, the ancestor of these people, ( Genesis 27:29 ) and which blessing is confirmed by Balaam against his will, and whereby he cursed himself instead of Israel; for though he could not curse him with words, he had cursed him in his heart, and would have done it verbally if he could ^F1.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 "Qui, quia non licuit, non facit, ille facit". Ovid.

Numbers 24:9 In-Context

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.

11 {Flee} to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you."