Numbers 24
24
1Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned # 24:1 Lit set his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God # 24:2 Ex 35:31; Nm 11:17,25–26,29; 1Sm 10:10 came on him, 3and he proclaimed his poem:
The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
4the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty, # 24:4 Is 13:6,9; Ezk 30:2–3; Jl 2:1–2,11,31
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
5How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel.
6They stretch out like river valleys, # 24:6 Or like date palms
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the water.
7Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag, # 24:7 Ex 17:14–16; 1Sm 15:8–33
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8God brought him out of Egypt;
he is like # 24:8 Or he has the horns of a wild ox for them. # 24:8 Nm 23:22
He will feed on enemy nations
and gnaw their bones;
he will strike them with his arrows.
9He crouches, he lies down like a lion
or a lioness — who dares to rouse him? # 24:9 Gn 49:9; Nm 23:24
Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed. # 24:9 Gn 12:3; 27:29
10Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. 11Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, # 24:11 Nm 22:17 but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”
12Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me: 13If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says. # 24:13 Nm 22:18,38 14Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
15Then he proclaimed his poem:
The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
16the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God
and has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: # 24:15–16 Nm 24:3–4
17I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel. # 24:17 Gn 49:10; Mt 2:2; Rv 22:16
He will smash the forehead # 24:17 Or frontiers of Moab
and strike down # 24:17 Sam reads and the skulls of; Jr 48:45 all the Shethites. # 24:17 Or Sethites
18Edom will become a possession;
Seir # 24:18 Gn 32:3 will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.
19One who comes from Jacob will rule;
he will destroy the city’s survivors.
20Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:
Amalek was first among the nations, # 24:20 Ex 17:8–16; 1Sm 15
but his future is destruction.
21Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:
Your dwelling place is enduring;
your nest is set in the cliffs.
22Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.
23Once more he proclaimed his poem:
Ah, who can live when God does this?
24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; # 24:24 Gn 10:4; Is 23:1,12; Jr 2:10; Dn 11:30
they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber, # 24:24 Gn 10:21,24–25; 11:14–27
but they too will come to destruction.
25Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Numbers 24
24
1Balaam was sure that the LORD would tell him to bless Israel again. So he did not use any magic to find out what the LORD wanted him to do, as he had the first two times. Instead, he looked out towards the desert 2and saw the tribes of Israel camped below. Just then, God's Spirit took control of him, 3and Balaam said:
“I am the son of Beor,
and my words are true,#24.3 my words are true: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
so listen to my message!
4It comes from the LORD,
the God All-Powerful.
I bowed down to him
and saw a vision of Israel.
5“People of Israel,
your camp is lovely.
6It's like a grove of palm trees#24.6 grove of palm trees: Or “green valley”.
or a garden beside a river.
You are like tall aloe trees
that the LORD has planted,
or like cedars
growing near water.
7You and your descendants
will prosper like an orchard
beside a stream.
Your king will rule with power
and be a greater king
than Agag the Amalekite.#24.7 Agag the Amalekite: The Amalekites were long-time enemies of the Israelites (see Exodus 17.8-16), and Agag was one of their most powerful kings.
8With the strength of a wild ox,
God led you out of Egypt.
You will defeat your enemies,
shooting them with arrows#24.8 shooting them with arrows: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
and crushing their bones.
9Like a lion you lie down,#Gn 49.9; Gn 12.3.
resting after an attack.
Who would dare disturb you?
“Anyone who blesses you
will be blessed;
anyone who curses you
will be cursed.”
10When Balak heard this, he was so furious that he pounded his fist against his hand and said, “I called you here to place a curse on my enemies, and you've blessed them three times. 11Leave now and go home! I told you I would pay you well, but since the LORD didn't let you do what I asked, you won't be paid.”
12Balaam answered, “I told your messengers 13that even if you offered me a palace full of silver or gold, I would still obey the LORD. And I explained that I would say only what he told me. 14So I'm going back home, but I'm leaving you with a warning about what the Israelites will some day do to your nation.”
Balaam's fourth message
15Balaam said:
“I am the son of Beor,
and my words are true,#24.15 my words are true: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
so listen to my message!
16My knowledge comes
from God Most High,
the LORD All-Powerful.
I bowed down to him
and saw a vision of Israel.
17“What I saw in my vision
hasn't happened yet.
But some day, a king of Israel
will appear like a star.
He will wipe out you Moabites#24.17 you Moabites: Or “the territories of Moab”.
and destroy#24.17 destroy: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Samaritan Hebrew Text “the skulls of”. those tribes
who live in the desert.#24.17 those tribes…desert: The Hebrew text has “the descendants of Sheth”, which probably refers to the people who lived in the desert areas of Canaan before the Israelites.
18Israel will conquer Edom
and capture the land
of that enemy nation.
19The king of Israel will rule
and destroy the survivors
of every town there.#24.19 every town there: Or “Ir in Moab”.
20“And I saw this vision
about the Amalekites:#24.20 the Amalekites: See the note at 24.7.
Their nation is now great,
but it will some day
disappear for ever.#24.20 but…for ever: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
21“And this is what I saw
about the Kenites:#24.21 the Kenites: A group of people who lived in the desert south of Israel.
They think they're safe,
living among the rocks,
22but they will be wiped out
when Assyria conquers them.#24.22 them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 22.
23“No one can survive
if God plans destruction.#24.23 destruction: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 23.
24Ships will come from Cyprus,
bringing people who will invade
the lands of Assyria and Eber.
But finally, Cyprus itself
will be ruined.”
25After Balaam finished, he started home, and Balak also left.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012