Numbers 24:6

_AS THE VALLEYS ARE THEY SPREAD FORTH, AS GARDENS BY THE RIVER'S SIDE, AS THE TREES OF LIGN ALOES WHICH THE LORD HATH PLANTED, AND AS CEDAR TREES BESIDE THE WATERS._ As the valleys are they spread forth, х_ KINCHAALIYM_ (H5158)] - as brooks or water-courses from the mountains. AS GARDENS BY THE RIVER'S SIDE. The vegetable and floral productions in the East flourish best in gardens situated in the neighbourhood of a running stream, where they can be watered by artificial rills, or even be refreshed by the moist spray wafted by the breeze (cf. Isaiah 58:11). AS THE TREES OF LIGN ALOES, WHICH THE LORD HATH PLANTED. The reference is to trees which, stately in appearance and flourishing in vigorous productiveness, grew spontaneously, without the appliances of human art or culture (cf....

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 24:6. _LIGN ALOES WHICH THE LORD HATH PLANTED_] Or, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched; for it is the same word, אהלים _ohalim_, which is used in the _5_th verse. But from other parts of Scripture we find that the word also signifies a species of _tree_, called by some the _sandal_ tree, and by others the _lignum_ or wood _aloes_. This tree is described as being _eight_ or _ten_ feet high, with very large leaves growing at the top; and it is supposed that a forest of those at some distance must bear some resemblance to a numerous encampment. As the word comes from the root אהל _ahal_, which signifies to _spread_ or _branch out_, and therefore is applied to _tents_, because of their being _extended_ or _spread out_ on the ground; so when it is applied to _trees_ it must necessarily mean such...

AS GARDENS BY THE RIVER’S SIDE - Balaam’s language reflects the famous artificial gardens along the banks of his own river, the Euphrates. AS THE TREES OF LIGN ALOES WHICH THE LORD HATH PLANTED - The latter words contain an apparent reference to Paradise (compare Genesis 2:8). The aloe, imported from China and the far distant east, furnished to the ancients one of the most fragrant and precious of spices; compare Psalms 45:8; Proverbs 7:17, AS CEDAR TREES BESIDE THE WATERS - i. e., as the noblest of trees branching forth in the fairest of situations: an image of majestic beauty, as that of the last verse was of ra

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;...

AS THE VALLEYS ARE THEY SPREAD FORTH,.... Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Numbers 2:3 and this may denote the lowness of the saints and people of God in their own eyes, and their largeness in themselves; and especially when the place of their tents shall be enlarged, and the curtains of their habitations be stretched forth in the latter day; and also their fruitfulness, meads, and valleys abounding with herbs and flowers, as the churches of God do with the fruits of the Spirit, grace, and righteousness, and with plants of the Lord's right hand planting. Some render it as brooks and torrents of water, so the Targum of Jonathan; whi...

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

AS THE TREES OF LIGN ALOES, &C. Some codices, with The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, and Syriac, read "as tents which Jehovah hath pitched"....

_Balaam's first prophetic message_. In its present form this consists of nine couplets and two triplets. But the text has undergone corruption, and perhaps there were originally eleven couplets....