24
The Prophecy from Peor
1 When Balaam saw that it 1Lit was good in the eyes ofpleased the Loʀᴅ to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to 2Lit encounterseek ANum 22:7; 23:23omens but he set his face toward the BNum 23:28wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel 1Lit dwellingcamping tribe by tribe; and ANum 11:26; 1 Sam 19:20; Rev 1:10the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 He took up his 1Lit parable, and so throughout the chdiscourse and said,
“ANum 24:15, 16The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
Who sees the BGen 15:1; Num 12:6vision of 2Heb Shaddaithe Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 “Like 1Or possibly palm treesvalleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like APs 45:8aloes planted by the Loʀᴅ,
Like BPs 1:3cedars beside the waters.
7 “Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be higher than ANum 24:20; 1 Sam 15:8Agag,
BPs 145:11-13And his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 “ANum 23:22God brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
BNum 23:24; Ps 2:9He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will crush their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his CPs 45:5arrows.
And as a 2Or lionesslion, who 3Lit shalldares rouse him?
BGen 12:3; 27:29Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his 1Lit palmshands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 11 “Therefore, 1Lit flee for yourselfflee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Loʀᴅ has held you back from honor.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “ANum 22:18Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the 1Lit mouthcommand of the Loʀᴅ, either good or bad, ANum 16:28of my own 2Lit heartaccord. BNum 22:20What the Loʀᴅ speaks, that I will speak’? 14 “And now, behold, ANum 31:8, 16; Josh 13:22I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the 1Lit end of the daysdays to come.”
15 He took up his discourse and said,
“ANum 24:3, 4The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 The oracle of him who hears the 1Lit sayingswords of God,
And knows the knowledge of the 2Heb ElyonMost High,
Who sees the vision of 3Heb Shaddaithe Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
AGen 49:10A scepter shall rise from Israel,
BNum 21:29; Is 15:1-16:14And shall crush through the 1Lit cornersforehead of Moab,
And 2Another reading is the crown of the head oftear down all the sons of 3I.e. tumultSheth.
18 “AGen 27:29; Amos 9:11, 12Edom shall be a possession,
BGen 32:3Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession,
While Israel performs valiantly.
19 “One from Jacob shall have dominion,
And will destroy the remnant from the city.”
20 And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
21 And he looked at the AGen 15:19Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,
“Your dwelling place is enduring,
And your nest is set in the cliff.
22 “Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;
How long will AGen 10:21, 22Asshur 1Lit takekeep you captive?”
23 Then he took up his discourse and said,
“Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?
And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict BGen 10:21Eber;
CNum 24:20So they also will come to destruction.”
25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to ANum 24:14his place, and Balak also went his way.
124:1 Lit was good in the eyes of
224:1 Lit encounter
124:2 Lit dwelling
A24:2 Num 11:26; 1 Sam 19:20; Rev 1:10
124:3 Lit parable, and so throughout the ch
A24:3 Num 24:15, 16
124:4 Lit sayings
224:4 Heb Shaddai
124:6 Or possibly palm trees
124:9 Lit bows down
224:9 Or lioness
324:9 Lit shall
124:10 Lit palms
124:11 Lit flee for yourself
124:13 Lit mouth
224:13 Lit heart
A24:14 Num 31:8, 16; Josh 13:22
124:14 Lit end of the days
124:16 Lit sayings
224:16 Heb Elyon
324:16 Heb Shaddai
B24:17 Num 21:29; Is 15:1-16:14
124:17 Lit corners
224:17 Another reading is the crown of the head of
324:17 I.e. tumult
A24:18 Gen 27:29; Amos 9:11, 12
124:20 Lit to destroying
A24:22 Gen 10:21, 22
124:22 Lit take