Numbers 24:1-14

Balaam's Third Oracle

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at ¹other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel ²camping tribe by tribe. And ³the Spirit of God came upon him,

3 and he ⁴took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,^[a]

4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, ⁵falling down with his eyes uncovered:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

6 Like palm groves^[b] that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, ⁶like aloes ⁷that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be ⁸in many waters; his king shall be higher than ⁹Agag, and ¹⁰his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the ¹¹horns of the wild ox; he shall ¹²eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall ¹³break their bones in pieces and ¹⁴pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion and ¹⁵like a lioness; who will rouse him up? ¹⁶Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you."

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he ¹⁷struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, ¹⁸"I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ¹⁹'I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."

12 And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,

13 ²⁰'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad ²¹of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak'?

14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, ²²I will let you know what this people will do to your people ²³in the latter days."

Numbers 24:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 24

In this chapter we are told, that Balaam leaving his enchantments, the Spirit of God came on him, and he spake of the happiness of Israel, and prophesied of their future greatness and glory, Nu 24:1-9 which so exasperated Balak, that he ordered him at once to depart from him, Nu 24:10,11. Balaam justified himself in what he said and did, and suggested that before they parted, he had something to say in a prophetic manner, concerning what Israel should do to Moab in "future" times, Nu 24:12-14 and then prophesies concerning the Messiah, and the destruction of Moab, and of some neighbouring nations, and even of some at a greater distance, as the Assyrians and Romans, Nu 24:15-25.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 23:3, 15
• 2. See Numbers 2:22-31
• 3. Judges 3:10; 1 Samuel 19:20, 23; 2 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Chronicles 20:14
• 4. See Numbers 23:7
• 5. [Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 3:23; Revelation 1:10, 17]
• 6. [Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8]
• 7. Psalms 104:16; Isaiah 61:3
• 8. [Jeremiah 51:13; Revelation 17:1]
• 9. 1 Samuel 15:8
• 10. 2 Samuel 5:12; 1 Chronicles 14:2
• 11. See Numbers 23:22
• 12. [Numbers 14:9; Numbers 23:24]
• 13. Isaiah 38:13; Jeremiah 50:17
• 14. Psalms 45:5; Jeremiah 50:9
• 15. Numbers 23:24; Genesis 49:9
• 16. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 27:29
• 17. [Job 27:23; Lamentations 2:15; Ezekiel 21:14, 17; Ezekiel 22:13]
• 18. See Numbers 23:11
• 19. Numbers 22:17, 37
• 20. Numbers 22:18
• 21. See Numbers 16:28
• 22. [Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14]
• 23. See Genesis 49:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15
• [b]. Or valleys