Study

a Bible passage

Click a verse to see commentary

Select a resource above

24. Balaam's Oracles

¹ Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. ² When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him ³ and he spoke his message:

   “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
   the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
⁴ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
   who sees a vision from the Almighty, Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
   who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

⁵ “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!

    ⁶ “Like valleys they spread out,
   like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the LORD,
   like cedars beside the waters.
⁷ Water will flow from their buckets;
   their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.

    ⁸ “God brought them out of Egypt;
   they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
   and break their bones in pieces;
   with their arrows they pierce them.
⁹ Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
   like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!”

¹⁰ Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.”

¹² Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, ¹³ ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD—and I must say only what the LORD says’? ¹⁴ Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

Balaam’s Fourth Message

¹⁵ Then he spoke his message:

   “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
   the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
¹⁶ the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
   who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
   who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

    ¹⁷ “I see him, but not now;
   I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
   a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
   the skulls Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain. of Or possibly Moab, / batter all the people of Sheth. Or all the noisy boasters
¹⁸ Edom will be conquered;
   Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
   but Israel will grow strong.
¹⁹ A ruler will come out of Jacob
   and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

²⁰ Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”

Balaam’s Sixth Message

²¹ Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:

   “Your dwelling place is secure,
   your nest is set in a rock;
²² yet you Kenites will be destroyed
   when Ashur takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

²³ Then he spoke his message:

   “Alas! Who can live when God does this? Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.
    ²⁴ Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
   but they too will come to ruin.”

²⁵ Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

5. How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! The internal condition of prosperity enjoyed by the people is described by various similitudes akin to each other, and expressive of the same thing. He compares them to valleys and well-watered gardens, and then to trees which were rendered succulent by abundance of moisture, and finally to fields whose seeds imbibe fatness from the waters. The word we translate “valleys spread forth,” some prefer to render “streams;” and the Hebrew word signifies both; but the course of the metaphors requires that valleys should be rather understood. For the same reason I have given the translation “aloe-trees;” for, although the word אהלים ohelim, often means “tabernacles,” I have no doubt but that it here refers to trees, so as to correspond with what follows as to the cedars. They are called trees “which the Lord hath planted,” as surpassing the ordinary growth of nature in their peculiar excellency, and exhibiting something more noble than the effect of human labor and skill.

In the concluding similitude the interpreters have erred, in nay opinion. Some translate it, “His seed (is) many waters;” others, “on many waters;” but ¹⁷⁰¹⁷⁰ Ainsworth says: “This seed may be understood, as before, of children; and many waters, of many peoples, as in Revelation 17:15; Isaiah 57:19; Psalm 144:7. Or seed may mean corn sown in watery, moist, and fruitful places, to bring forth much increase; as Isaiah 32:20.” C.’s own translation is, after all, equivocal; however, his opinion may incline to the literal meaning of the word seed. the literal translation which I have given runs far better, viz., that he is like a rich and fertile field, whose seed is steeped in much water.

Thus far Balaam has been speaking of God’s blessing, which shall enrich the people with an abundance of all good things.