Números 24:9

9 Se agazapa, se echa como león, o como leona ¿quién se atreverá a despertarlo? Benditos los que te bendigan, y malditos los que te maldigan.

Números 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.

Números 24:9 In-Context

7 Agua correrá de sus baldes, y su simiente estará junto a muchas aguas; más grande que Agag será su rey, y su reino será exaltado.

8 Dios lo saca de Egipto; es para él como los cuernos del búfalo. Devorará a las naciones que son sus adversarios, y desmenuzará sus huesos, y los traspasará con sus saetas.

9 Se agazapa, se echa como león, o como leona ¿quién se atreverá a despertarlo? Benditos los que te bendigan, y malditos los que te maldigan.

10 Entonces se encendió la ira de Balac contra Balaam, y palmoteando, dijo Balac a Balaam: Te llamé para maldecir a mis enemigos, pero he aquí, los has llenado de bendiciones estas tres veces.

11 Ahora pues, huye a tu lugar. Yo dije que te colmaría de honores, pero mira, el SEÑOR te ha privado de honores.