Numbers 24:15-25

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,

16 He saith, who heareth the words of God, who knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, who falleth down, and who hath his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh: There cometh a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and he shall cut in pieces the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir a possession, -- they, his enemies; but Israel will do valiantly.

19 And one out of Jacob shall have dominion, and will destroy out of the city what remaineth.

20 And he saw Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be for destruction.

21 And he saw the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Firm is thy dwelling-place, and thy nest fixed in the rock;

22 But the Kenite shall be consumed, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber, and he also shall be for destruction.

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Numbers 24:15-25 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. See Gen. 22.16.
• [b]. Lit. 'undermine.'
• [c]. See Jer. 48.45.
• [d]. Or 'what remaineth out of the city.'
• [e]. Lit. 'establisheth.' See Ps. 89.29.
• [f]. i.e. Cyprus, as Isa. 23.1.