_Divination. Septuagint, "to meet the birds." The augurs judged of future events by the flying, eating, and other appearances of birds. Hebrew, "enchantments." (Menochius) --- Desert. The plains of Moab, where the Israelites were encamped. He found himself, as it were, involuntarily transported by t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Up. The same term only occurs again, (Lamentations iii. 8,) where it may have the same sense, though the Septuagint &c., give it here a quite opposite meaning, "the man whose eyes are open," the prophet. But Balaam alludes to his not being able to see the angel as soon as his ass, as he does, ver.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Falleth. Out of respect to God, or in a trance. Septuagint, "in sleep, his eyes are uncovered." He was accustomed to commune with the spirits in the night, chap. xxii. 8. (Haydock) --- He who is clear-sighted enough in teaching others, neglecteth his own salvation; or, being naturally incapable of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Woody. Hebrew also "extensive torrents." --- Tabernacles. Hebrew ahalim, which some render lign-aloes, or stacte, as St. Jerome does, Psalm xliv. 9.; Proverbs vii. 17.; Canticle of Canticles iv. 14. The aloe-tree, however, was brought from India, and was not common in Arabia. The Syrian aloe was on... [ Continue Reading ]
Waters. Septuagint, Chaldean, and Syriac, "From his seed a man shall spring, who shall have dominion over many nations." This must be understood of the Messias; or, his posterity shall be very numerous; (see Proverbs v. 15, 16) or his country shall be well watered, and his crops luxuriant. --- Agag.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lioness. See ver. 22, 24, of the preceeding chapter. (Haydock) --- This prediction was accomplished under the reigns of David and of Solomon. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Together, to hinder him from being heard, and through indignation, Job xxxvii. 23._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Honour, or reward._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Counsel, out of my own head. This he was going to do, (Calmet) that he might not lose his reward, when again he found himself impelled by the Lord to speak what was contrary to his temporal interest. After complying reluctantly, God ceased to strive, as it were, with his rebellious will any longer,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who knoweth. This is a new title, which he had not before assumed, ver. 4._... [ Continue Reading ]
Him. The great personage whom I have in view, whose coming is deferred yet for many ages. (Haydock) --- The whole prediction refers to the Messias, whom Balaam beheld by the eyes of his posterity, the wise men, (Calmet) or in the prophetic vision. (Menochius) --- Some modern Rabbins pretend that he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idumea and Seir. The children of Esau shall acknowledge the dominion of Israel, from David to Josaphat, and again under Hircan, 3 Kings xi. 15., and 4 Kings iii. 20. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xiii. 17.) (Calmet) --- Not only the faithful Israelites, but also the profane and headstrong sons of Esau,... [ Continue Reading ]
City of this world. Jesus will destroy their evil habits, (Origen, hom. 18,) and will select some whose lives had been hitherto scandalous, to be his intimate friends. (Haydock) --- He will save those who abandoned paganism, which had fixed its seat at the great city of Rome, (Calmet) and he will ra... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nations, which rose up to attack the Hebrews. (Onkelos) --- Saul will punish them, 1 Kings xv. The Amalecites were a very ancient people, known in the days of Abraham, Genesis xiv. 7. But now they are no more. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cinite. From the top of the hill, he cast his eyes across the Dead Sea, and beholding the strong holds of the Cinite, whose country had been promised to the Hebrews, he is inspired to foretel what would happen to this people. He alludes to their name, which signifies a nest; (Calmet) and to the man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Captive. The Samaritan insinuates that they should return, 1 Paralipomenon ii. 55. "Though thy nest should be entirely consumed, thy inhabitants shall return out of Assyria." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "If to Beor (the capital) there should be nests of iniquity, the Assyrians will reduce thee to capt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Things, of which he is about to speak. The time is remote, but very dreadful, when the Assyrians shall be chastised, in their turn, as well as the Greeks and Romans, who shall have destroyed Assur, and even the most favourite nation of God. Balaam began by announcing the prosperity of the Hebrews,... [ Continue Reading ]
Italy. Hebrew, "Chittim," which Bochart endeavours to prove with great erudition to mean Italy; while Grotius contends it means Macedon, and Calmet doubts not but this is the import of the present text. The Macedonians under Alexander and his successors, conquered the countries of Assyria, Palestine... [ Continue Reading ]
_Place, in Aram. He returned soon after to the country of the Madianites, and was deservedly involved in their ruin. (Haydock) (Chap. xxxi. 8.) --- Perhaps he only began his journey homeward, and stopped on the road. (Calmet) --- As for Balac, he fought against Israel, (Josue xxiv. 9,) at least by e... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XXIV.... [ Continue Reading ]