Numbers 24:6-9

6 Like palm groves^[a] that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, ¹like aloes ²that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be ³in many waters; his king shall be higher than ⁴Agag, and ⁵his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the ⁶horns of the wild ox; he shall ⁷eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall ⁸break their bones in pieces and ⁹pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion and ¹⁰like a lioness; who will rouse him up? ¹¹Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you. ”

Numbers 24:6-9 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. 24:6 [Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:8]
• 2. 24:6 Ps. 104:16; Isa. 61:3
• 3. 24:7 [Jer. 51:13; Rev. 17:1]
• 4. 24:7 1 Sam. 15:8
• 5. 24:7 2 Sam. 5:12; 1 Chr. 14:2
• 6. 24:8 See ch. 23:22
• 7. 24:8 [ch. 14:9; 23:24]
• 8. 24:8 Isa. 38:13; Jer. 50:17
• 9. 24:8 Ps. 45:5; Jer. 50:9
• 10. 24:9 ch. 23:24; Gen. 49:9
• 11. 24:9 Gen. 12:3; 27:29

Footnotes

• [a] 24:6 Or 'valleys'