Numeri 23:9

9 Quando io lo riguardo dalla sommità delle rupi, E lo miro d’in su i colli, Ecco un popolo che abiterà da parte, E non si acconterà fra l’altre nazioni.

Numeri 23:9 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 23:9

For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I
behold him
That is, Israel in their camps; Balaam being at this time on the top of a rock, or on an high hill, from whence he had a view of Israel, encamped in the plains of Moab below him:

lo, the people shall dwell alone;
this certainly respects their dwelling in the land of Canaan, where they dwelt a separate people from all others, distinguished by their language, religion, laws, customs, and manner of living, being different both in their clothing, and in their food, from other people; nor had they dealings, nor did they company with those of other nations; see ( Esther 3:8 ) ( John 4:9 ) ( Acts 10:28 ) "or shall dwell safely" ^F26, or securely, not so much because of the situation of their country, but because of the protection of the Almighty; see ( Deuteronomy 33:28 )

and shall not be reckoned among the nations;
as belonging to them, shall not be made of any account by them, but be despised and reproached for their religion chiefly; nor reckon themselves of them, nor mix with them; so the Targum of Jerusalem,

``they shall not be mixed;''

or, as Jonathan,

``they shall not be led in the laws of the people;''

and though they are now scattered among the people and nations of the world, yet they are not mixed with them, nor reckoned to be a part of them; nor do they reckon themselves to be of them, but are a separate distinct people from them. Thus Israel, or the people of God in a spiritual sense, dwell alone; not solitarily, or without company, in every sense, for they have the company of Father, Son, and Spirit, of angels and saints; but they dwell in God, in Christ, in the house of God, and with one another, separately and distinctly from the world: they are a separate people in the love of God; in the choice of them in Christ; in the covenant of grace made with them in him; in redemption by him; in his intercession for them; in effectual calling; as they will be in the resurrection morn, and in heaven to all eternity: and they shall dwell safely, God being around them; Christ the rock and fortress of them; the Spirit in them being greater than he that is in the world; angels their guardians, and they in a strong city, whose walls and bulwarks are salvation: nor are they reckoned among the nations; they are chosen, redeemed, and called out of them, and are not accounted of by them any other than the refuse and offscouring of all things; nor do they reckon themselves to be of the world, but as pilgrims and strangers in it. Baal Hatturim refers this prophecy to the days of the Messiah; see ( Jeremiah 23:5 Jeremiah 23:6 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F26 (rdbl) "confidenter", Pagninus; "securus", Vatablus.

Numeri 23:9 In-Context

7 Allora egli prese a proferire la sua sentenza, e disse: Balac, re di Moab, mi ha fatto condurre di Siria, Dalle montagne d’Oriente, Dicendo: Vieni, maledicimi Giacobbe; Vieni pure, scongiura Israele.

8 Come lo maledirò io? Iddio non l’ha maledetto; Come lo scongiurerò io? il Signore non l’ha scongiurato.

9 Quando io lo riguardo dalla sommità delle rupi, E lo miro d’in su i colli, Ecco un popolo che abiterà da parte, E non si acconterà fra l’altre nazioni.

10 Chi annovererà Giacobbe, che è come la polvere? E chi farà il conto pur della quarta parte d’Israele? Muoia la mia persona della morte degli uomini diritti, E sia il mio fine simile al suo.

11 Allora Balac disse a Balaam: Che mi hai tu fatto? io ti avea fatto venir per maledire i miei nemici; ed ecco, tu li hai pur benedetti.