Numbers 24:16-25

16 dixit auditor sermonum Dei qui novit doctrinam Altissimi et visiones Omnipotentis videt qui cadens apertos habet oculos

17 videbo eum sed non modo intuebor illum sed non prope orietur stella ex Iacob et consurget virga de Israhel et percutiet duces Moab vastabitque omnes filios Seth

18 et erit Idumea possessio eius hereditas Seir cedet inimicis suis Israhel vero fortiter aget

19 de Iacob erit qui dominetur et perdat reliquias civitatis

20 cumque vidisset Amalech adsumens parabolam ait principium gentium Amalech cuius extrema perdentur

21 vidit quoque Cineum et adsumpta parabola ait robustum est quidem habitaculum tuum sed si in petra posueris nidum tuum

22 et fueris electus de stirpe Cain quamdiu poteris permanere Assur enim capiet te

23 adsumptaque parabola iterum locutus est heu quis victurus est quando ista faciet Deus

24 venient in trieribus de Italia superabunt Assyrios vastabuntque Hebraeos et ad extremum etiam ipsi peribunt

25 surrexitque Balaam et reversus est in locum suum Balac quoque via qua venerat rediit

Numbers 24:16-25 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.