Numbers 24

Balaam's First Oracle Numbers 24:3–9

³Verse 3. He took up his parable, and said,“Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;⁴Verse 4. he says, who hears the words of God,who sees the vision of the Almighty,falling down, and having his eyes open:⁵Verse 5. How goodly are your tents, Jacob,and your tents, Israel!⁶Verse 6. As valleys they are spread out,as gardens by the riverside,as aloes which Yahweh has planted,as cedar trees beside the waters.⁷Verse 7. Water shall flow from his buckets.His seed shall be in many waters.His king shall be higher than Agag.His kingdom shall be exalted.⁸Verse 8. God brings him out of Egypt.He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,shall break their bones in pieces,and pierce them with his arrows.⁹Verse 9. He couched, he lay down as a lion,as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?Everyone who blesses you is blessed.Everyone who curses you is cursed.”

Balak's Frustration Numbers 24:10–14

¹⁰Verse 10. Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. ¹¹Verse 11. Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.” ¹²Verse 12. Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, ¹³Verse 13. ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?

¹⁴Verse 14. Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”

Balaam's Second Oracle Numbers 24:15–19

¹⁵Verse 15. He took up his parable, and said,“Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;¹⁶Verse 16. he says, who hears the words of God,knows the knowledge of the Most High,and who sees the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, and having his eyes open:¹⁷Verse 17. I see him, but not now.I see him, but not near.A star will come out of Jacob.A scepter will rise out of Israel,and shall strike through the corners of Moab,and break down all the sons of Sheth.¹⁸Verse 18. Edom shall be a possession.Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession,while Israel does valiantly.¹⁹Verse 19. Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

Balaam's Further Prophecies Numbers 24:20–24

²⁰Verse 20. He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,“Amalek was the first of the nations,But his latter end shall come to destruction.”²¹Verse 21. He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,“Your dwelling place is strong.Your nest is set in the rock.²²Verse 22. Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,until Asshur carries you away captive.”²³Verse 23. He took up his parable, and said,“Alas, who shall live when God does this?²⁴Verse 24. But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.He also shall come to destruction.”

Conclusion of the Meeting Numbers 24:25

²⁵Verse 25. Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.