Numbers 24:14

_AND NOW, BEHOLD, I GO UNTO MY PEOPLE: COME THEREFORE, AND I WILL ADVERTISE THEE WHAT THIS PEOPLE SHALL DO TO THY PEOPLE IN THE LATTER DAYS._ Come ... and I will advertise thee, х_ 'IY`AATSªKAA_ (H3289)]. This verb signifies both to give and to take counsel; and so some regard this as signifying, 'I will give thee counsel' - i:e., as to a certain way of ruining this people by stratagem (cf. Numbers 25:1; Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14). Here it is supposed there is a sudden break, leaving by an unfinished sentence, the rest to be supplied (as in Exodus 4:5;...

14._And now, behold, I go unto my people. _Since the counsel which he gave is not here expressly mentioned, (174) it is the opinion of some that his address is unfinished, and they suppose that he referred to the cunning advice so destructive to the people, which will be presently related; _i.e., _that the Moabitish women should prostitute themselves. Others rather imagine that Balaam counselled Balak to rest quiet, since the prosperity of the Israelites would do no harm to the Moabites in his lifetime. I, however, take it simply for to teach, or to admonish what would be for his advantage. Thus he commends his prophecy, in order that Balaam may willingly submit to it. Still, when he speaks of the “latter days,” he signifies that there was no cause for Balak himself to fear or be anxious; since the punishment of his nation would be deferred for a long time. In the meantime we see what Ba...

10-14 This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would not have uttered....

I WILL ADVERTISE THEE - i. e., “I will advise thee,” words which refer to the ensuing prophecy....

NUMBERS 24:1 AS AT OTHER TIMES, or, "as (he had done) time after time." SEPTUAGINT, κατὰ τὸ εἰωθός. TO SEEK FOR ENCHANTMENTS. Rather, "for the meeting with aunties." לִקְמראת נְחַשִׁים. Septuagint, to συνάντησιν τοῖς οἰωνοῖς. _Nachashim; _as in Numbers 23:23, is not enchantments in the sense of magical practices, but definitely auguries, i.e. omens and signs in the natural world observed and interpreted according to an artificial system as manifesting the purposes of God. As one of the commonest and worst of heathen practices, it was forbidden to Israel (Leviticus 19:26;...

AND NOW, BEHOLD, I GO UNTO MY PEOPLE,.... According to thine order, I shall not stay to make thee uneasy with my company, only I crave thy patience to hear me a little before we part: COME THEREFORE, AND I WILL ADVERTISE THEE; about some things that shall come to pass in future time, respecting this people, and thine, and other nations, both near and remote; and he hoped by this to bring him into a better temper, and part good friends: or "I will counsel thee"; what thou shall do, as the Targum of Onkelos, and so makes a sentence of this of itself, independent of, and distinct from what follows, beginning the next clause thus, AND I WILL SHOW THEM WHAT THIS PEOPLE, c. referring the former to the counsel Balaam gave to Balak, how to seduce the people into idolatry and the Targum of Jonathan expresses it at large; "come, I will counsel thee, go and prepare victualling houses, and place...

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 ...

BALAK'S DISMISSAL OF BALAAM. Balak shows his contempt for the seer, who had failed to earn the promised reward, by clapping his hands together (a mark of scorn, Job 27:23); whilst Balaam, before departing, utters unasked another oracle concerning the future relations of Israel with Moab....

THE LATTER DAYS. the end of the days, denoting. definite period. Compare Genesis 49:1.Deuteronomy 4:30; Isaiah 2:2.Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 30:24; Jeremiah 48:47; Jeremiah 49:39; Ezekiel 38:16; Daniel 10:

Balak, in anger, bade Balaam flee back to his land. Balaam replied, as before, that he was bound to utter the message which Jehovah gave him, and, instead of departing at once, uttered four further declarations....