The Word Am I

The Fourth Book of Moses: Numbers

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- Chapter 24 -

1
And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,
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and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into him,
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taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
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the hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:
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‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!
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They are like forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.
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Water shall flow from his jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.
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Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.
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Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered cursed.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

10
And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.
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Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”
12
Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your messengers, whom you sent to me:(a)
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Even if Balak would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.
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Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

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Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,
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the hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:
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I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.
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And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.
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From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

20
And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”
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Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,(b)
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and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”(c)
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And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?
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They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”(d)
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And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.

Footnotes

(a)24:12 A question mark is omitted deliberately, because it would be confusing. Also, as a rhetorical question, these two verses are more of a statement than a question.(Conte)
(b)24:21 The Kenites figuratively represent certain faithful Roman Catholics during the last days, during the Antichrist’s reign, who make their home in that Rock which is the Church and its teachings.(Conte)
(c)24:22 But these faithful Roman Catholics will be taken captive by Assur (the Antichrist).(Conte)
(d)24:24 Trieres refers to a type of warship made by the Greeks. This passage refers to the same event as Daniel 11:29-30; the middle of the Antichrist’s reign, when some Roman Catholics in Greek warships (i.e. from a democratic or formerly-democratic nation) will come against the fleet of the Antichrist. The reference to Italy has the spiritual meaning of indicating Roman Catholics, because Italy and Rome is the seat of authority of the Church. They shall overcome the Assyrians (the fleet of the Antichrist, who will be from Assyria), and also will devastate the Hebrews. The Hebrews, at that time, will be in support of the Antichrist. But notice that they are called Hebrews, not Jews. Those who are truly devout Jews will reject the Antichrist. Later, when the Antichrist is thrown down by the Archangel Michael, many of these Hebrews repent and believe in Jesus Christ. After the Antichrist is defeated in this battle, at a later time, he discovers which Catholics fought against him there and has them killed.(Conte)
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;
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he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
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How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
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As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
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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.
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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,
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‘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’?
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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.
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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?
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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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