Numbers 24:1
XXIV. (1) HE SET HIS FACE TOWARD THE WILDERNESS. — i.e., towards the place where the Israelites were encamped on the steppes of Moab.... [ Continue Reading ]
XXIV. (1) HE SET HIS FACE TOWARD THE WILDERNESS. — i.e., towards the place where the Israelites were encamped on the steppes of Moab.... [ Continue Reading ]
ABIDING IN HIS TENTS... — _i.e.,_ encamped according to the order prescribed for the respective tribes. The cognate noun is rendered _tabernacles_ in Numbers 24:5. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON HIM. — In regard to the two former utterances, it is said that Jehovah put a word in the mouth of Balaam... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM THE SON OF BEOR HATH SAID. — The Hebrew word (_neum_) is imperfectly rendered by _hath said._ It is the word which is commonly used in the prophetical books of Scripture to denote a Divine saying, and is rarely used when a human author is named. It occurs in the Pentateuch only in Genesis 22:... [ Continue Reading ]
FALLING INTO A TRANCE, BUT HAVING HIS EYES OPEN. — Better, _falling_ (_upon his face_)_, and having his eyes opened._ The physical effect produced upon Balaam appears to have been the same as that which was produced upon Saul (1 Samuel 19:24), upon Ezekiel (Num. i 28), upon Daniel (Num. viii, 17. 18... [ Continue Reading ]
AS GARDENS BY THE RIVER’S SIDE. — It is probable that the allusion may be to the Euphrates, although the definite article is not prefixed to the word _nahar_ (river) in the Hebrew. (Comp. Isaiah 7:20.) AS CEDAR TREES BESIDE THE WATERS.-The difference between cedars which grow beside running water w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL POUR THE WATER OUT OF HIS BUCKETS. — Better, _Water shall flow from his buckets;_ or, _he shall flow with water from his buckets._ The nation is personified as a man carrying two buckets full of water, which was the type and leading source of blessing and prosperity in the East. This is a b... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD BROUGHT HIM FORTH OUT OF EGYPT. — (Comp. Numbers 23:22, and Note.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COUCHED, HE LAY DOWN AS A LION, AND AS A GREAT LION. — The Hebrew _labi_ (great lion) should be rendered “a lioness,” as in Numbers 23:24. The image of a lion connects this verse with the preceding verse: “he shall eat up the nations.” (See Note on Numbers 23:24.) BLESSED IS HE THAT BLESSETH THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SMOTE HIS HANDS TOGETHER. — The smiting the hands was a token of strong feeling, whether of scorn, of indignation, or of despair. (Comp. Job 27:23; Lamentations 2:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD HATH KEPT THEE BACK FROM HONOUR. — These words may have been spoken ironically, or Balak may have been convinced of the supernatural influence under which the words of Balaam were uttered. (See Numbers 23:27, and Note.)... [ Continue Reading ]
I CANNOT GO BEYOND THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD. — Hebrew, _the mouth of the Lord:_ the same expression which is used in Numbers 22:18, where the Authorised Version has “_the word_ of the Lord.”... [ Continue Reading ]
I GO UNTO MY PEOPLE. — Such was, probably, the intention of Balaam when he spoke these words. The account of the death of Balaam, however, shows that he still lingered amongst the Moabites. I WILL ADVERTISE THEE... — The word which is here employed generally means to _advise._ The announcement whic... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HEARD... AND KNEW. — Better, w_hich heareth_... _and knoweth._ WHICH SAW. — Better, _he seeth. _... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHALL SEE HIM... — Better, _I see him_ (or, _it_)_, but not now; I behold him_ (or, _it_)_, but not nigh._ The reference cannot be to Israel, whose armies were encamped before the eyes of Balaam. His words must be understood as having reference to One whom he beheld with the eyes of his mind, not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EDOM SHALL BE A POSSESSION, SEIR ALSO... — Better, _And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir shall be a possession, for his enemies_ (_i.e.,_ the enemies of Israel, or, rather, of the Ruler who was to rise out of Israel). The Hebrew word (_oyebaiv_) which is rendered “his enemies” appears to sta... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SHALL HAVE DOMINION. — The reference is explained in Psalms 72:8, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth,” where the same verb occurs which _is in_ both places rendered in the Authorised Version “shall have dominion.” AND SHALL DESTROY HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE LOOKED ON AMALEK... — From the. mountain of Peor, on which Balaam then stood, he had a view of the country of the Amalekites, which lay to the south of the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:29; Genesis 36:12). AMALEK WAS THE FIRST OF THE NATIONS. — The ancestor of the Amalekites was Eliphaz, th... [ Continue Reading ]
(21-22) AND HE LOOKED ON THE KENITES... — According to the ordinary interpretation of these verses the continuous destruction of the Kenites is foretold until the Israelites should be taken captive by the Assyrians. The Kenites are included amongst the tribes whose country Abraham’s descendants were... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN GOD DOETH THIS. — These words may be rendered, _since_ (or, _from the time that_)_ God sets_ (or, _determines_)_ it_ (or, _this_) — _quando faciet ista Deus_ (Vulgate); or, _because God determines it_ (or, _this_)_. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHIPS SHALL COME FROM THE COAST OF CHITTIM. — The _Chittim_ (or, _Kittim_) are said to have migrated from Phœnicia to Cyprus, and there founded the city of Citium, the modern _Chitti._ (See Josephus, “Antiq.” i.6, 1.) The name probably applies to the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean gener... [ Continue Reading ]
AND RETURNED TO HIS PLACE. — Balaam probably set out with the intention of returning home. He. turned _towards_ his place. The sequel shows that he remained amongst the Midianites, and perished with them.... [ Continue Reading ]