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Christianity

Numbers 24A Star Out of Jacob

Summary

Numbers 24 records Balaam's last oracles. No longer seeking omens, he sees Israel camped by tribes, the spirit of God comes on him, and he blesses them: how goodly are thy tents, O Jacob. Balak angrily dismisses him, but Balaam goes on to foresee a star rising out of Jacob and a sceptre out of Israel that will crush Moab. Brief oracles follow on Edom, Amalek, the Kenites and Asshur before Balaam returns home.

Key verse

“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

Numbers 24:17

Themes

  • Prophecy
  • Messianic Hope
  • Blessing
  • God's Purposes

Text

1

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

3

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10

And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

12

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

13

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

14

And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

20

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

21

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, 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 shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

25

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

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Judaism

    Numbers 24 (JPS 1917): Mah Tovu

    Balaam's words in Numbers 24:5 open the Mah Tovu prayer that many Jews recite on entering a synagogue. In the second century, the rebel leader Simon bar Kosiba was called Bar Kokhba, son of the star, drawing on 24:17.

  • Christianity

    Matthew 2: His Star in the East

    Matthew 2 tells of magi following a star to the newborn king. Many Christian interpreters have connected the star with Balaam's prophecy, though Matthew does not quote Numbers 24.

Questions about Numbers 24

What is the star out of Jacob?

Numbers 24:17 foresees a star and sceptre rising from Israel. Jewish interpreters applied it to David or the Messiah, and Christians have read it as a prophecy of Jesus.

What does Mah Tovu mean?

It means how goodly, the first words of Numbers 24:5 in Hebrew. The verse begins a prayer said when entering a synagogue.