Numbers 23:10

_WHO CAN COUNT THE DUST OF JACOB, AND THE NUMBER OF THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL? LET ME DIE THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS, AND LET MY LAST END BE LIKE HIS!_ Who can count the dust of Jacob ... ? х_ `ªPAR_ (H6083)] - dry dust. An Oriental hyperbole for a very populous nation, as Jacob's posterity was promised to be; Septuagint: _ TO_ (G3588) _ SPERMA_ (G4690), the seed-a translation which ignores the metaphor in the original (Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14). THE NUMBER OF THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL? - i:e., the camp consisted of four divisions; each one of these parts was formidable in numbers. But the phrase might be used as denoting ge

10._Who can count the dust of Jacob? _Hence it is plain that what Balaam was to say was suggested to him by God, since he quotes the words of God’s solemn promise, wherein the seed of Abraham is compared to the dust of the earth. Still, we must bear in mind what I have just adverted to, that, although that multitude was reduced to a small number by the sin of the people, nevertheless this was not declared in vain, inasmuch as that little body at length expanded itself so as to fill the whole world. Speaking by _hyperbole, _then, he says that their offspring would be infinite, since the fourth part will be almost innumerable. His aspiration at the conclusion is more emphatic than a simple affirmation. “I would (he says) that I might share with them their last end!” (157) For, in the first place, every one longs for what is most for his good; and again, Balaam confesses himself unworthy to...

1-10 With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no more than God suffered...

Verse Numbers 23:10. _LET ME DIE THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS_] Probably Balaam had some presentiment that he should be taken off by a premature death, and therefore he lodges this petition against it. The death of the righteous in those times implied _being gathered_ _to one's fathers in a good old age_, having seen his children, and children's children; and to this, probably, the latter part of this petition applies: _And let my last end be like his_, (ותהי אחריתי כמהו uthehi acharithi chamohu, And let my POSTERITY _be_ _like his_.) It has been generally supposed that Balaam is here praying for a happy death, such as true Christians die who die in the Lord; and in this way his words are generally applied; but I am satisfied this is not their meaning. The prayer, however, understood in the common way, is a good one, and may be offered to God profitably. A ri...

THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL - i. e., each one of the four camps, into which the host of Israel was divided (see Numbers 2), seemed to swarm with innumerable multitudes. Possibly Balaam could only see one camp. Balaam bears testimony in this verse to the fulfillment of the promises in Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14. THE RIGHTEOUS - i. e., the ancestors of Israel, who “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off” Hebrews 11:13. With their histories Balaam was familiar, particularly with that of Abraham, “the righteous man” whom God had “raised

NUMBERS 23:1 BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his favourable consideration on their side. The number seven was especially connected with the revelation of the tree God, the Creator of the world, and was probably observed here for this reason. The sacrifices were offered no doubt to Jehovah. NUMBERS 23:3 PERADVENTURE THE LORD WILL COME TO MEET me. It might be concluded from Numbers 24:1 that Balaam went only to look for "auguries," _i.e; _for such natural signs in the flight of birds and the like a

WHO CAN COUNT, THE DUST OF JACOB,.... The people of Israel, their posterity so called, not because of their original, the dust of the earth, but because of their numbers, being as numerous as the dust of the earth, or sand of the sea, as it was promised they should be, Genesis 28:14 and which is here confirmed by the prophecy of Balaam: AND THE NUMBER OF THE FOURTH PART OF ISRAEL; one of the four camps of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; for this people was divided into four camps, under so many standards, which were those of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan, see Numbers 2:1, and one of them is represented by Balaam as so numerous, as not to be counted, or should be so, see Hosea 1:10.

THE PARABLES OF BALAAM Chapter S 23-24 _ 1. The first parable (Numbers 23:1)_ 2. Balak's surprise and Balaam's answer (Numbers 23:11) 3. At Zophim (Numbers 23:13) 4. The second parable (Numbers 23:18) 5. Balak's request and Balaam's reply (Numbers 23:25) 6. Balaam's third parable (Numbers 24:1) 7. Balak's anger and Balaam's firmness ...

BALAAM'S FIRST ORACLE. Its purport is that the secure independence, the imposing numbers, and the undisturbed prosperity of Israel are proof that the people have not been cursed by God and therefore cannot be cursed by Balaam. The poem, which may have been incorporated, rather than composed, by the author of the narrative, seems to date from a period when Israel was most prosperous (_i.e._ some time during the undivided monarchy; _cf._ on Numbers 24:7; Numbers 24:17). NUMBERS 23:7. ARAM: _ i.e_. Aram-naharaim (Genesis 24:10 *,...

WHO CAN COUNT. ? Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6. THE NUMBER OF. Who can number? Figure of speech _Erotesis_ (App-6). So with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint. The word "number" is thought by Ginsburg to be an abbreviation of two words. "Who can number? " ME DIE. my soul die. Hebrew. _nephesh._ See App-13. RIGHTEOUS. upright. To die the death of the righteous one must have the righteousness of the righteous. LAST END. latter end,. e. issue or reward....