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📚And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to seek for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 📚And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him. 24:2 The Spirit of God may use anyone to speak God’s message, even Balaam, even Saul (1 Sam 10:10-11), even the evil Caiaphas (John 11:49-51).⚜
3 📚And he began his poetic utterance and said,
“The oracle of Balaam
the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man
whose eyes are open,
4 📚the oracle of him who heard
the words of God,
who saw the vision of the Almighty 📖,
falling into a trance,
but having his eyes open:
24:3-4 Balaam had such experiences, but still became a Judas.⚜
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
and your tabernacles,
O Israel!
6 📚Like valleys they are spread out,
like gardens by the river’s side,
like aloe trees planted
by the LORD
and like cedars beside the waters.
7 📚Water will flow from
his buckets,
and his descendants will be
by many waters,
and his king will be higher
than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
24:7 Agag was probably the name or title of a succession of kings of the Amalekites (v 20).⚜
8 📚God brought him forth
out of Egypt;
he is like the horns of
a wild ox to him.
He will devour the nations
who are his enemies,
and will break their bones,
and pierce them with
his arrows.
9 📚He crouched;
he lay down like a lion,
like a great lion.
Who will stir him up?
Blessed is anyone
who blesses you,
and cursed is anyone
who curses you”.
10 📚And Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse mine enemies, and, see, you have positively blessed them these three times. 11 📚So now, quick, be off to your own place. I said I would greatly honour you, but, see, the LORD has kept you from honour”.
12 📚And Balaam said to Balak, “And did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me and say, 13 📚even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the command of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own accord, but I will speak what the LORD says? 14 📚And now, look, I am going to my people, so come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in days after these”.
15 📚And he began his poetic utterance and said,
“The oracle of Balaam
the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man
whose eyes are open,
16 📚the oracle of the one
who heard the words of God
and understands
the knowledge
of the Most High,
who saw the vision of
the Almighty,
falling into a trance,
but having his eyes open:
17 📚I will look at him, but not now;
I will see him,
but not near.
A Star will come out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre will rise
out of Israel and will strike
the sides of Moab,
and beat down all
the children of Sheth.
18 📚And Edom will be a possession,
and Seir, his enemy,
will be a possession;
and Israel will do valiantly.
19 📚Out of Jacob will come
the one who will have dominion,
and destroy the survivors
from the city”.
24:17-19 This may refer to David who became king of Israel many years later, or it may refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, David’s son according to His human nature. David conquered both Moab and Seir (Edom) and fulfilled what Balaam predicted here (2 Sam 8:2, 14). Christ, of course, in a greater measure than David was a star and scepter and will be the conqueror of the whole earth (Gen 49:10; Isa 9:6-7; Matt 2:2; Luke 1:30-33; Heb 1:8; Rev 19:11-16). The meaning of the last sentence of v 17 in Hebrew is obscure and may be translated in different ways (“and beat down all the noisy boasters” or “beat down all the sons of strife”).⚜
20 📚And when he looked at Amalek, he began his poetic utterance and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations; but his end will be destruction”.
24:20 “First of the nations” may possibly mean first to war against Israel when they came from Egypt. Amalek was not at all the first nation in human history. Amalek the ancestor of the Amalekites was the grandson of Esau (Gen 36:12). Balaam is speaking about tribes and peoples (Moab, Edom, Amalek, Kenites) which lived in areas just east and south of the Dead sea.⚜
21 📚And he looked at the Kenites, and began his poetic utterance and said, “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set on a rock.
22 📚However the Kenites will be ruined. How long before Asshur carries you away captive?”
24:21-22 The Kenites were a part of the Midianite people (Ex 3:1; Jud 1:16; 4:11). The Midianites were descended from Abraham by his second wife Keturah (Gen 25:1-2).⚜
23 📚And he began his poetic utterance and said, “Ah, who will live when God does this!
24 📚And ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and afflict Eber; and he also will perish for ever”.
25 📚And Balaam got up, and proceeded to return to his own place 📖. And Balak also went his way.