Numbers 24:4

_HE HATH SAID, WHICH HEARD THE WORDS OF GOD, WHICH SAW THE VISION OF THE ALMIGHTY, FALLING INTO A TRANCE, BUT HAVING HIS EYES OPEN:_ Which heard the words of God, х_ 'IMREEY_ (H561) _ 'EEL_ (H410)] - a poetical term. х_ DªBAR_ (H1697) is used by a prose writer in similar circumstances (1 Samuel 3:1).] In both cases articulate sounds were heard, where no human voice was present to utter them (cf. Daniel 4:31; Matthew 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17) - a striking proof that ideas cannot be suggested

1-9 Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbour. Their fruitfulness and increase. Their honour and advancement. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when at rest, because God maketh them to dwell in safety. Their influence upon their neighbours. God takes what is done to them, wheth...

Verse Numbers 24:4. _FALLING INTO A TRANCE_] There is no indication in the Hebrew that he fell into a _trance_; these words are added by our translators, but they are not in the original. נפל _nophel_ is the only word used, and simply signifies _falling_, or _falling down_, perhaps in this instance by way of religious prostration....

The “falling” of which Balaam speaks was the condition under which the inward opening of his eyes took place. It indicates the force of the divine inspiration overpowering the seer. The faithful prophets of the Lord do not appear to have been subject to these violent illapses Daniel 8:17; Revelation 1:17. In Balaam and in Saul 1 Samuel 19:24 the word of God could only prevail by first subduing the alien will, and overpowering the bodily energies which the will ordinarily directs....

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;...

HE HATH SAID, WHICH HEARD THE WORDS OF GOD,.... God speaking to him, which he did several times, and with which he was greatly elated, see Numbers 22:9: WHICH SAW THE VISION OF THE ALMIGHTY; not that he had a sight of any similitude of God, though the angel that appeared to him, which was Christ the uncreated angel, might appear in an human form, for some visible form was seen both by the ass and him; but rather this respects the visions of God to him in the night; it may be in a dream, as has been already observed, and which the following words seem to confirm: FALLING INTO A TRANCE, BUT HAVING HIS EYES OPEN: or falling into a deep sleep, and yet the eyes of his body open, which sometimes is the case with persons asleep; or the eyes of his mind open, to receive the instructions given him in a dream or vision of the night; unless this is to be understood

FALLING INTO That is, prostrated by the prophetic impulse. See (1 Samuel 19:24); (Ezekiel 1:23); (Daniel 8:18); (2 Corinthians 12:2); (Revelation 1:10); (Revelation 1:17)....

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 THIRD ORACLE. This varies the tenor of the two previous utterances by dwelling upon the fertility of Israel's soil, and the eminence of its ruler. It was probably constructed, like the preceding oracle, in distichs, but in two places this arrangement has been disturbed. The reference to a king in Israel points to the poem having been written in the time of the monarchy. NUMBERS 24:3 F. The seer is represented as receiving the Divine revelations in a trance or dream, the closed eye of Numbers 24:3 being the eye of the body, and the open eyes of Numbers 24:4 being the eyes of the mind. But the rendering was closed in Numbers 24:3

OF. Genitive of origin. words from God. GOD. the mighty God. Hebrew. _'El._ App-4. FALLING INTO. TRANCE. The _Ellipsis_ better supplied. "falling [to the ground]"....