NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:1 The mention of the Spirit of God empowering Balaam (v. Numbers 24:2) shows the validity of Balaam’s third blessing. Balaam describes himself as THE MAN... WHO HEARS THE WORDS OF GOD. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.lengt... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:5 This picture of Israel’s future success in Canaan uses imagery from the garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:7 WATER SHALL FLOW FROM HIS BUCKETS. This continues the image of well-watered gardens. HIS SEED SHALL BE IN MANY WATERS. This may refer to the fertility of the land, or to the growth of Israel’s population. HIS KING SHALL BE HIGHER THAN AGAG seems to be a prediction of Sau... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:9 Balak, by demanding a curse on Israel, will himself be CURSED (see v. Numbers 24:17). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:15 An ORACLE was a prophet’s verbal statement about what God had shown him in a vision. Balaam’s final oracle begins like the previous one (compare vv. Numbers 24:3 with vv. Numbers 24:15). But it rapidly becomes a prophecy about the rise of the Davidic dynasty, which conq... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:17 STAR... SCEPTER. Symbols of kingship (see Genesis 49:10). SONS OF SHETH. Probably nomads living in Canaan. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:18 SEIR is another name for Edom. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:19 This prophecy ends with another prediction of Moab being ruled by the Davidic dynasty. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:20 Balaam adds three short oracles against the nations: Israel’s future will be secure, as other nations are destroyed. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:21 The next oracle predicts the defeat of the Kenites by ASSHUR. The Kenites were on good terms with Israel (see Judges 1:16). Asshur is probably a tribe that lived in northern Sinai (Genesis 25:3; 2 Samuel 2:9). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:23 These verses are difficult to interpret. It appears that Balaam predicts the Philistines (KITTIM) arriving on the coasts of Canaan. This happened in the twelfth century B.C. They defeated ASSHUR AND EBER before they themselves came TO UTTER DESTRUCTION at the hands of D... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 24:25 THEN BALAAM ROSE AND WENT BACK TO HIS PLACE. This is not the end of the story of Balaam. Later he advised Balak to send women to seduce Israel and lead them away from God (Numbers 31:16; compare Revelation 2:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("i [ Continue Reading ]