Numbers 24:17-25

17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, ¹A scepter shall rise from Israel, ²And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

18 "³Edom shall be a possession, ⁴Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.

19 "One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city."

20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, ⁵But his end shall be destruction."

21 And he looked at the ⁶Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff.

22 "Nevertheless * Kain will be consumed; How long will ⁷Asshur keep you captive?"

23 Then he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?

24 "But ships shall come from the coast of ⁸Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict ⁹Eber; ¹⁰So they also will come to destruction."

25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to ¹¹his place, and Balak also went his way.

Numbers 24:17-25 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. Genesis 49:10
• 2. Numbers 21:29; Is 15:1-16:14
• 3. Genesis 27:29; Amos 9:11, 12
• 4. Genesis 32:3
• 5. Numbers 24:24
• 6. Genesis 15:19
• 7. Genesis 10:21, 22
• 8. Genesis 10:4; Ezekiel 27:6
• 9. Genesis 10:21
• 10. Numbers 24:20
• 11. Numbers 24:14

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "corners"
• [b] Another reading is "the crown of the head of"
• [c] I.e. tumult
• [d] Lit "to destroying"
• [e] Lit "take"