Numbers — Chapter 24

Now Balaam, seeing that it pleased GOD to bless Israel, did not, as on previous occasions, go in search of omens, but turned his face toward the wilderness.

As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him.

Taking up his theme, he said:aSome of the poetic portions of this chapter are unclear. Word of Balaam son of Beor,Word of the manbman Heb. geber; more precisely, a man who makes his presence felt. whose eye is true,cwhose eye is true In contrast to others “whose eye is (or, eyes are) open”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Word of one who hears God’s speech,Who beholds visions from the Almighty,Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

How fair are your tents, O Jacob,Your dwellings, O Israel!

Like palm-groves that stretch out,Like gardens beside a river,Like aloes planted by GOD,Like cedars beside the water;

Their boughs drip with moisture,Their rootsdTheir roots Lit. “and its seed.” have abundant water.Their ruler shall rise above Agag,Their sovereignty shall be exalted.

God who freed them from EgyptIs for them like the hornsehorns See note at 23.22. of the wild ox.They shall devour enemy nations,Crush their bones,And smash their arrows.

They crouch, they lie down like a lion,Like a lioness;flioness See note at Gen. 23.24. who dares rouse them?Blessed are they who bless you,Accursed they who curse you!

Enraged at Balaam, Balak struck his hands together. “I called you,” Balak said to Balaam, “to damn my enemies, and instead you have blessed them these three times!

Back with you at once to your own place! I was going to reward you richly, but GOD has denied you the reward.”

Balaam replied to Balak, “But I even told the messengers you sent to me,

‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord do anything good or bad contrary to GOD’s command. What GOD says, that I must say.’

And now, as I go back to my people, let me inform you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

He took up his theme, and said:Word of Balaam son of Beor,Word of the mangman See note at v. 3. whose eye is true,

Word of one who hears God’s speech,Who obtains knowledge from the Most High,And beholds visions from the Almighty,Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

What I see for them is not yet,What I behold will not be soon:A star rises from Jacob,A scepter comes forth from Israel;It smashes the brow of Moab,The foundation ofhThe foundation of Samaritan “the pate of,” cf. Jer. 48.45; in contrast to others “And breaks down.” all children of Seth.

Edom becomes a possession,Yea, Seir a possession of its enemies;But Israel is triumphant.

A victor issues from JacobTo wipe out what is left of Ir.

He saw Amalek and, taking up his theme, he said:A leading nation is Amalek;But its fate is to perish forever.

He saw the Kenites and, taking up his theme, he said:Though your abode be secure,And your nest be set among cliffs,

Yet shall KainiKain I.e., the Kenites mentioned in v. 21. be consumed,When Asshur takes you captive.

He took up his theme and said:Alas, who can survive except God has willed it!

Ships come from the quarter of Kittim;They subject Asshur, subject Eber.They, too, shall perish forever.

Then Balaam set out on his journey back home; and Balak also went his way.