Numberschapter 24

A.How goodly are thy tents, O Jacobvv. 1-9

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, 4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! 6 They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters. 7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows. 9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

B.Balak's anger and Balaam's warningvv. 10-14

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. 11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.” 12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me 13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says. 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

C.A star shall come out of Jacobvv. 15-19

15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, 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 bows down with eyes wide open: 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor. 19 A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

D.Amalek, the Kenite, and ships from Kittimvv. 20-25

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.” 21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff. 22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.” 23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it? 24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.” 25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Balaam's third and fourth oracles.

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Balaam's third and fourth oracles. No enchantments now. The Spirit of God comes upon him. ‘How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!’ (24:5). Balak's anger rises; Balaam refuses bribe and land. Then the fourth oracle, looking beyond: ‘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’ (24:17). A messianic oracle heard by the Magi centuries later. Further oracles against Moab, Amalek, the Kenites, Ashur, Eber, Chittim. Calvin reads the chapter as the mystery that God can put prophetic truth in the mouth of a reluctant prophet.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Law · Moses — Numbers overview

A. 1–9 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob
B. 10–14 Balak's anger and Balaam's warning
C. 15–19 A star shall come out of Jacob
D. 20–25 Amalek, the Kenite, and ships from Kittim

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Numbers 237 verses
- Numbers 23:3“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,
- Numbers 23:7And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
- Numbers 23:11Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”
- Numbers 23:18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.
- Numbers 23:22God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.
- Numbers 23:23For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’
- Read Numbers 23: 1 more there →
Genesis 493 verses
- Genesis 49:1Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
- Genesis 49:9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
- Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Read Genesis 49 →
Numbers 243 verses
- Numbers 24:3and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
- Numbers 24:4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
- Numbers 24:16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
- Read Numbers 24 →
Numbers 223 verses
- Numbers 22:17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
- Numbers 22:18But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
- Numbers 22:37And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”
- Read Numbers 22 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Numbers 312 verses
- Numbers 31:8Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
- Numbers 31:16“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.
- Read Numbers 31 →
1 Samuel 192 verses
- 1 Samuel 19:20he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
- 1 Samuel 19:23So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
- Read 1 Samuel 19 →
Revelation 12 verses
- Revelation 1:10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
- Revelation 1:17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
- Read Revelation 1 →
Ezekiel 212 verses
- Ezekiel 21:14‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!
- Ezekiel 21:17I too will strike My hands together, and I will satisfy My wrath.’ I, the LORD, have spoken.”
- Read Ezekiel 21 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.