When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before superstitiously to seek aomens and signs in the natural world, but he set his face toward the bwilderness (desert) .Num 22:7; 23:23Num 23:28 2 And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and athe Spirit of God came on him.Num 11:26; 1 Sam 19:20; Rev 1:10 3 He took up his third discourse (oracle) and said:“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God,Num 24:15, 16
4 The oracle of one who ahears the words of God,Who sees the bvision of the Almighty,Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,Num 22:20Gen 15:1; Num 12:65 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,And your tabernacles, O Israel!6 “Like valleys that stretch out,Like gardens beside the river,Like aaloes planted by the LORD,Like bcedars beside the waters. Ps 1:3Ps 45:8Ps 1:37 “Water that is, great blessings will flow from his buckets,And his offspring will live by many waters,And his king will be higher than 1aAgag,bAnd his kingdom shall be exalted.“Agag” was the title of the Amalekite kings, and here it represents the kingdom of the Gentiles. The Amalekites at that time were the most powerful of all the desert tribes (Num 24:20).Num 24:20; 1 Sam 15:8Ps 145:11-138 “aGod brought Israel out of Egypt;Israel has 1strength like the wild ox;bHe will devour Gentile nations, his adversaries (enemies) ,And will crush their bones in pieces,And shatter them with his carrows.Lit horns.Num 23:22Num 23:24; Ps 2:9Ps 45:59 “aHe bowed down to rest, he lies down as a lion;And as a lioness, who dares to rouse him?bBlessed of God is he who blesses you,And cursed of God is he who curses you.” Matt 25:40Gen 49:9; Num 23:24Gen 12:3; 27:29 10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “aDid I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me,Num 22:18 13 ‘Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD, to do either good or bad aof my own accord. bWhat the LORD speaks, that I will speak?’Num 16:28Num 22:20 14 And now, look, aI am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people Israel will do to your people Moab in the days to come.”Num 31:8, 16; Josh 13:22
15 He took up his fourth discourse (oracle) and said:“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,Num 24:3, 4
16 The oracle of him who hears the words of GodAnd knows the knowledge of the 1Most High,Who sees the vision of the 2Almighty,Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:Heb Elyon.Heb Shaddai.17 I see Him, but not now;I behold Him, but not near.A star shall come forth from the descendants of Jacob,A ascepter shall rise out of the descendants of IsraelbAnd shall crush the forehead of MoabAnd destroy all the sons of Sheth. Matt 2:2; Rom 15:12Gen 49:10Num 21:29; Is 15:1-16:1418 “aEdom shall be taken as a possession,Mount bSeir, Israel’s enemies, also will be a possession,While Israel performs valiantly.Gen 27:29; Amos 9:11, 12Gen 32:319 “One from the descendants of Jacob shall have dominionAnd will destroy the remnant from the city.” 20 Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his fifth discourse (oracle) and said:“Amalek was the first of the neighboring nations to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt,aBut his end shall be 1destruction.”After the time of David, who was forced to rescue two of his wives from Amalekite bandits (1 Sam 30:18), the Amalekites are mentioned again only in Hezekiah’s time (1 Chr 4:43).Num 24:24
21 And Balaam looked at the aKenites and took up his sixth discourse (oracle) and said:“Strong is your dwelling place,And you set your nest in the cliff.Gen 15:19
22 “Nevertheless the Kenites will be consumed.How long will aAsshur (Assyria) keep you (Israel) captive?”Gen 10:21, 22 23 Then he took up his seventh discourse (oracle) and said:“Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?
24 “But ships shall come from the coast of 1aKittim,And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and 2bEber;So cthey (the victors) also will come to destruction.”Cyprus and the greater part of the Mediterranean’s east coast.The Hebrews, certain Arabs, and descendants of Nahor.Gen 10:4; Ezek 27:6Gen 10:21Num 24:20 25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to ahis place, and Balak also went on his way.Num 24:14