Numbers 24:4-14

4 He says, who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of Shaddai, Falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are your tents, Ya`akov, Your tents, Yisra'el!
6 As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which the LORD has planted, As cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets, His seed shall be in many waters, His king shall be higher than Agag, His kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him forth out of Mitzrayim; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, Shall break their bones in pieces, Smite [them] through with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, As a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be everyone who blesses you, Cursed be everyone who curses you.
10 Balak's anger was kindled against Bil`am, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Bil`am, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.
12 Bil`am said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own mind; what the LORD speaks, that will I speak?
14 Now, behold, I go to my people: come, [and] I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.

Numbers 24:4-14 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.