Números 24

1 Pero cuando Balán se dio cuenta de que al SEÑOR le complacía que se bendijera a Israel, no recurrió a la hechicería, como otras veces, sino que volvió su rostro hacia el desierto.

2 Cuando Balán alzó la vista y vio a Israel acampando por tribus, el Espíritu del SEÑOR vino sobre él;

3 entonces pronunció su oráculo:«Palabras de Balán hijo de Beor;palabras del varón clarividente.

4 Palabras del que oye las palabras de Dios,del que contempla la visión del Todopoderoso,del que cae en trance y tiene visiones.

5 »¡Cuán hermosas son tus tiendas, Jacob!¡Qué bello es tu campamento, Israel!

6 Son como arroyos que se ensanchan,como jardines a la orilla del río,como áloes plantados por el SEÑOR,como cedros junto a las aguas.

7 Sus cántaros rebosan de agua;su semilla goza de agua abundante.Su rey es más grande que Agag;su reinado se engrandece.

8 »Dios los sacó de Egiptocon la fuerza de un toro salvaje.Israel devora a las naciones hostilesy les parte los huesos;¡las atraviesa con sus flechas!

9 Se agacha como un león,se tiende como una leona:¿quién se atreverá a molestarlo?¡Benditos sean los que te bendigan!¡Malditos sean los que te maldigan!»

10 Entonces la ira de Balac se encendió contra Balán, y chasqueando los dedos le dijo:—Te mandé llamar para que echaras una maldición sobre mis enemigos, ¡y estas tres veces no has hecho sino bendecirlos!

11 ¡Más te vale volver a tu tierra! Prometí que te recompensaría, pero esa recompensa te la ha negado el SEÑOR.

12 Balán le contestó:—Yo les dije a los mensajeros que me enviaste:

13 “Aun si Balac me diera su palacio lleno de oro y de plata, yo no podría hacer nada bueno ni malo, sino ajustarme al mandamiento del SEÑOR mi Dios. Lo que el SEÑOR me ordene decir, eso diré”.

14 Ahora que vuelvo a mi pueblo, voy a advertirte en cuanto a lo que este pueblo hará con tu pueblo en los días postreros.

Cuarto oráculo de Balán

15 Entonces Balán pronunció su oráculo:«Palabras de Balán hijo de Beor,palabras del varón clarividente.

16 Palabras del que oye las palabras de Diosy conoce el pensamiento del Altísimo;del que contempla la visión del Todopoderoso,del que cae en trance y tiene visiones:

17 »Lo veo, pero no ahora;lo contemplo, pero no de cerca.Una estrella saldrá de Jacob;un rey surgirá en Israel.Aplastará las sienes de Moaby el cráneo de todos los hijos de Set.

18 Edom será conquistado;Seír, su enemigo, será dominado,mientras que Israel hará proezas.

19 De Jacob saldrá un soberano,y destruirá a los sobrevivientes de Ar».

Últimos oráculos de Balán

20 Balán miró a Amalec y pronunció este oráculo:«Amalec fue el primero entre las naciones,pero su fin será la destrucción total».

21 Luego miró Balán al quenita y pronunció este oráculo:«Aunque tienes una morada seguray tu nido está sobre las rocas,

22 tú, Caín, estás destinado al fuego,y Asiria te llevará cautivo».

23 Entonces Balán pronunció este oráculo:«¡Ay!, ¿quién seguirá con vidacuando Dios determine hacer esto?

24 Vendrán barcos desde las costas de Chipre,que oprimirán a Asiria y a Éber,pues ellos también serán destruidos».

25 Después de esto Balán se levantó y volvió a su tierra, y también Balac se fue por su camino.

Números 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel. (1-9) Balak dismisses Balaam in anger. (10-14) Balaam's prophecies. (15-25)

Verses 1-9 Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbour. Their fruitfulness and increase. Their honour and advancement. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when at rest, because God maketh them to dwell in safety. Their influence upon their neighbours. God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to himself.

Verses 10-14 This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered.

Verses 15-25 Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the Most High and the Almighty. No man could seem to express a greater respect to God; yet he had no true fear of him, love to him, nor faith in him; so far a man may go toward heaven, and yet come short of it at last. Here is Balaam's prophecy concerning Him who should be the crown and glory of his people Israel; who is David in the type; but our Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at, and of him it is an illustrious prophecy. Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but shall not see him nigh; not see him as Job, who saw him as his Redeemer, and saw him for himself. When he comes in the clouds, every eye shall see him; but many will see him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar off. He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as a Star and a Sceptre; the former denoting his glory and lustre; the latter his power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jacob and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by his golden sceptre, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod. Balaam prophesied concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose country he had now in view. Even a nest in a rock will not be a lasting security. Here is a prophecy that looks as far forward as to the Greeks and Romans. He acknowledges all the revolutions of states and kingdoms to be the Lord's doing. These events will make such desolations, that scarcely any will escape. They that live then, will be as brands plucked out of the fire. May God fit us for the worst of times! Thus Balaam, instead of cursing the church, curses Amalek the first, and Rome the last enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papal also; antichrist and all the antichristian powers. Let us ask ourselves, Do we in knowledge, experience, or profession, excel Balaam? No readiness of speech, even in preaching or prayer, no gifts of knowledge or prophecy, are in themselves different from, or superior to the boasted gifts of him who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and died the enemy of God. Simple dependence on the Redeemer's atoning blood and sanctifying grace, cheerful submission to the Divine will, constant endeavours to glorify God and benefit his people, these are less splendid, but far more excellent gifts, and always accompany salvation. No boasting hypocrite ever possessed these; yet the feeblest believer has something of them, and is daily praying for more of them.

Chapter Summary

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.