Numbers 24:5-15

5 The tents of Israel are beautiful,

6 Like long rows of palms Or gardens beside a river, Like aloes planted by the Lord Or cedars beside the water.

7 They will have abundant rainfall And plant their seed in well-watered fields. Their king shall be greater than Agag, And his rule shall be extended far and wide.

8 God brought them out of Egypt; He fights for them like a wild ox. They devour their enemies, Crush their bones, smash their arrows.

9 The nation is like a mighty lion; ¹ When it is sleeping, no one dares wake it. Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, And whoever curses Israel will be cursed."

10 Balak clenched his fists in anger and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but three times now you have blessed them instead.

11 Now get on home! I promised to reward you, but the Lord has kept you from getting the reward."

12 Balaam answered, "I told the messengers you sent to me that

13 even if you gave me all the silver and gold in your palace, I could not disobey the command of the Lord by doing anything of myself. I will say only what the Lord tells me to say."

14 Balaam said to Balak, "Now I am going back to my own people, but before I go, I am warning you what the people of Israel will do to your people in the future."

15 Then he uttered this prophecy: "The message of Balaam son of Beor, The words of the man who can see clearly,

Numbers 24:5-15 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. 24.9 aGenesis 49.9; bGenesis 12.3.

Footnotes

• [a]. [One ancient translation] They . . . fields; [Hebrew unclear.]
• [b]. who can see clearly; [or] whose eyes are closed.