1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tentsaccording to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17I 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, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

1And when Balaam sawe that it pleased the Lord to blesse Israel, hee went not, as at other times to seeke for inchantments, but hee set his face toward the wildernesse.

2And Balaam lift vp his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents, according to their Tribes: and the Spirit of God came vpon him.

3And he tooke vp his parable, and said, Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4Hee hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almightie, falling into a trance, but hauing his eyes open:

5How goodly are thy tents, O Iacob, and thy Tabernacles, O Israel!

6As the valleyes are they spread forth, as gardens by the riuer side, as the trees of Lign-Aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as Cedar trees beside the waters.

7He shall powre the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his King shall be higher then Agag, and his Kingdome shall be exalted.

8God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the strength of an Unicorne: he shall eate vp the nations his enemies, and shall breake their bones, and pierce them thorow with his arrowes.

9Hee couched, he lay downe as a Lyon, and as a great Lyon: who shal stirre him vp? Blessed is hee that blesseth thee, and cursed is hee that curseth thee.

10¶ And Balaks anger was kindled against Balaam, and hee smote his hands together: and Balak said vnto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

11Therefore now, flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee vnto great honour, but loe, the Lord hath kept thee backe from honour.

12And Balaam said vnto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest vnto me, saying,

13If Balak would give mee his house full of siluer and gold, I cannot goe beyond the commandement of the Lord, to doe either good or bad of mine owne mind? But what the Lord saith, that will I speake.

14And now beholde, I goe vnto my people: come therefore, and I will aduertise thee, what this people shall doe to thy people in the latter dayes.

15¶ And hee tooke vp his parable, and said, Balaam the sonne of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open, hath said:

16He hath said which heard the words of God, and knewe the knowledge of the most High, which sawe the vision of the Almightie, falling into a trance, but hauing his eyes open.

17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a starre out of Iacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18And Edom shall bee a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies, and Israel shall doe valiantly.

19Out of Iacob shall come he that shall haue dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the citie.

20¶ And when he looked on Amalek, he tooke vp his parable, and sayd, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall bee, that hee perish for euer.

21And hee looked on the Kenites, and tooke vp his parable, and saide, Strong is thy dwelling place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rocke:

22Neuerthelesse, the Kenite shall be wasted, vntil Asshur shal carie thee away captiue.

23And he tooke vp his parable, and said, Alas! who shall liue when God doeth this?

24And shippes shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shal afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and hee also shall perish for euer.

25And Balaam rose vp, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

II == Num 2:2 ; 11:25 ; 1st Sam 10:10 ; 19:20 , 23 ; 2hr 15:1

 

 

 

 

III == Num 23:7 , 18

 

 

IV == 1st Sam 19:24 ; Ezek 1:28 ; Dan 8:18 ; 10:15-16 ; 2nd Cor 12:2-4 ; Rev 1:10 , 17

 

VI == Ps 1:3 ; 104:16 ; Jer 17:8

 

 

VII == 1st Sam 15:9 ; 2nd Sam 5:12 ; 1st Chr 14:2 ; Jer 51:13 ; Rev 17:1 , 15

 

VIII == Num 14:9 ; 23:22 , 24 ;Ps 2:9 ; 45:5 ; Isa 38:13 ; Jer 50:9 , 17

 

IX == Gen 12:3 ; 27:29 ; 49:9

 

 

X == Deut 23:4-5 ; Josh 24:9-10 ; Neh 13:2 ; Ezek 21:14 , 17 ; 22:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Gen 49:1 ; Dan 2:28 ; 10:14 ; Mic 6:5 ; Rev 2:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVII == Gen 49:10 ; 2nd Sam 8:2 ; Ps 110:2 ; Jer 48:45 ; Matt 2:2 ; Rev 1:7 ; 22:16

 

XVIII == 2nd Sam 8:14 ; Ps 60:8-9 , 12

 

XIX == Gen 49:10

XX == Ex 17:8 , 14 ; 1st Sam 15:3 , 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Gen 15:19

 

 

 

XXIV == Gen 10:4 , 21 , 25 ; Dan 11:30

 

 

1 Balaam, however, perceiving that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel, did not go aside as before to seek omens, but turned his gaze toward the desert.

2 When he raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him,

3 and he gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,

4 The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured, and with eyes unveiled:

5 How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!

6 They are like gardens beside a stream, like the cedars planted by the LORD.

7 His wells shall yield free-flowing waters, he shall have the sea within reach; His king shall rise higher than. . . . and his royalty shall be exalted.

8 It is God who brought him out of Egypt, a wild bull of towering might. He shall devour the nations like grass, their bones he shall strip bare.

9 He lies crouching like a lion, or like a lioness; who shall arouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you!

10 Balak beat his palms together in a blaze of anger at Balaam and said to him, "It was to curse my foes that I summoned you here; yet three times now you have even blessed them instead!

11 Be off at once, then, to your home. I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has withheld the reward from you!"

12 Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not warn the very messengers whom you sent to me,

13 'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord to anything, good or evil, contrary to the command of the LORD'? Whatever the LORD says I must repeat.

14 "But now that I am about to go to my own people, let me first warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."

15 Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true,

16 The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured and with eyes unveiled.

17 I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel, That shall smite the brows of Moab, and the skulls of all the Shuthites,

18 Till Edom is dispossessed, and no fugitive is left in Seir. Israel shall do valiantly,

19 and Jacob shall overcome his foes.

20 Upon seeing Amalek, Balaam gave voice to his oracle: First of the peoples was Amalek, but his end is to perish forever.

21 Upon seeing the Kenites, he gave voice to his oracle: Your abode is enduring, O smith, and your nest is set on a cliff;

22 Yet destined for burning -  even as I watch - are your inhabitants.

23 Upon seeing. . . . he gave voice to his oracle: Alas, who shall survive of Ishmael,

24 to deliver his people from the hands of the Kittim? When they have conquered Asshur and conquered Eber, He too shall perish forever.

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

v 1,2. Balaam saw it was futile to use enchantments, so he just went where he could look out over all the multitude of Israel and the Spirit came upon him. This did not mean he was a child of God. There is a difference between the Spirit coming upon a person to empower them for a special task, than the indwelling of the Spirit.

3-9. As Balaam looks out over the Israelite multitude his eyes are finally open by the vision or trance from God. He can see nothing but beauty in them as it is supplied by the Lord, and he can see nothing but blessing. Succession of Amalekites kings bore the name Agag, just as Pharaoh in Egypt, so there is no conflict with king Agag who came 300 years later, 1 Sam. 15:8. The summary of blessing is still important today. “Blessed is he who blesses thee (Jews) and cursed is he who curseth thee.”

 

 

 

 

v 10-14. Balak was angry that Balaam had blessed Israel instead of cursing them, and clapping his hands in the Oriental way of disgraceful dismissal, ordered him away with criticism that obeying God had robbed Balaam of rewards. Any loss we suffer for obeying God is well worth the price. Balaam reminded him of his pledge to say only what the Lord told him, then he said that before he went back to his people, he would tell Balak what Israel would do to Moab in the latter days.

 

 

v 15-19. I shall see him but not now can be worded I do or have seen him prophetically, but afar off. In poetic form he describes his vision in which prophetically he saw the Star and Scepter out of Israel. This prophecy may have helped the Wise Men from the east to properly interpret the star which they saw and followed to Bethlehem, Matt. 2:2. This prophecy was partially and typically fulfilled in King David, but preeminently in the Messiah, Christ. All of Moab will be crushed, and her tumultuous people destroyed. The prophecy against Edom was accomplished by David, 2 Sam. 8:14.

v 20-24. Now Balaam predicts the destruction of Amalek, which he called the first of the nations because they traced back to Esau. Saul began this 1 Sam. 15:1-9, and it was completed by David, 1 Sam. 30 and Hezekiah, 1 Chron. 4:41-43. Then he gives the destruction of the Kenites by Assyrian invasion & captivity. Kenites were a part of the Midianites as seen in the description of Moses’ father-in-law, Num. 10:29. In 24:23 He indicates few will escape Nebuchadnezzar. Kittim refers to the areas around the Mediterranean, Greece and Rome, and they would overcome both the Assyrians and the Hebrews. Verse 24 gives the triumph of Rome over the Jews, but looks forward when Rome will be crushed by the stone cut out without hands, Dan. 2:34 and 45. These were amazing prophecies of the future, not from one of God’s dedicated prophets, but from a heathen prophet who properly quoted God.

v 25. Both Balak and Balaam went their separate ways, but Balaam did not go back to Mesopotamia, as he apparently tried to profit by his advice to corrupt morals in the following chapter and Num. 31:16. He was slain with kings of Midian, Num. 31:8.