Numbers 24:24

shipsshall come … Kittim ships from the side of Kittim. The clause has no verb, and, if the text is right, it must form the subject of the following verb -shall afflict," the intervening -and" being disregarded.

Asshurand Eber. The two names appear to denote the world powers of the east; but the exact meaning of the name Eber is quite unknown.

And he also shall come to destruction -he" apparently refers to Asshur and Eber considered as one nation. After carrying the Kenites captive, Asshur will itself be destroyed by invaders from the west. There is, however, no support for this in history, unless Asshur be given the unusual meaning (which it bears in Ezra 6:22) of the Persian empire, which was overthrown by Alexander.

Various emendations throughout the two verses have been proposed (see Gray, Numb. pp. 377 9), but none of them has materially lightened the difficulties.