The Word Am I

The Fourth Book of Moses: Numbers

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- Chapter 24 -

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,(a) 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,(b) 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.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

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.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

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 (c) 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.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

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 (d) 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;(e) 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.

Footnotes

(a)24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
(b)24:6 Or like valleys
(c)24:17 SP foreheads; Hebrew corners (of the head); LXX princes
(d)24:22 Or Assyria; also in verse 24
(e)24:24 Hebrew Kittim
1
When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
3
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
4
he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
5
How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
6
As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
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.
8
God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
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 Dismisses Balaam

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.
11
Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”
12
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
13
‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’?
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 Fourth Oracle

15
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
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:
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 crush all the sons of Sheth.
18
Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
19
Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

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.”
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.
22
Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23
He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24
But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
25
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
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