Numbers 24:20

Balaam's Fifth Message From God

20 Then Balaam saw the people of Amalek. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel. But they will finally be destroyed."

Numbers 24:20 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:20

And when he looked on Amalek
The country of Amalek, which lay to the south of the land of Canaan, ( Numbers 13:29 ) and which Balaam had a view of from the mountain of Peor, where he now was:

and he took up his parable, and said;
the parable of his prophecy, as the Targum of Jonathan, and pronounced it aloud:

Amalek was the first of the nations;
not the first nation in the world, nor the chief and principal for numbers, riches, or strength, but the first that made war with Israel, as all the three Targums paraphrase it, as they did, see ( Exodus 17:8 ) ,

but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever;
this was threatened to them by the Lord upon that battle, and is confirmed by this prophecy of Balaam: and after this, orders were given to Israel to blot out their remembrance, ( Deuteronomy 25:19 ) , and which, in a good measure, though not completely, was done in the times of Saul, ( 1 Samuel 15:8 1 Samuel 15:9 ) and after that they were distressed by David, ( 1 Samuel 27:9 ) ( 1 Samuel 30:17 1 Samuel 30:18 ) ( 2 Samuel 8:12 ) and the rest of them were smitten by the sons of Simeon, in the days of Hezekiah, ( 1 Chronicles 4:41-43 ) , after which we hear of them no more: Amalek may be considered as a type of antichrist, the son of perdition, who shall go into it, shall come to his end, and there shall be none to help him; which will be true of all the antichristian party, the enemies of Christ, who will be destroyed by him, and perish eternally; see ( Daniel 11:45 ) ( Revelation 17:8 ) .

Numbers 24:20 In-Context

18 He'll win the battle over Edom. He'll win the battle over his enemy Seir. But Israel will grow strong.

19 A ruler will come from among the people of Jacob. He'll destroy those from the city who are still alive."

20 Then Balaam saw the people of Amalek. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel. But they will finally be destroyed."

21 Then he saw the Kenites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "The place where you live is safe. Your nest is on a high cliff.

22 But you Kenites will be destroyed. Assyria will take you as prisoners."