# Numbers 24 đ: Balaam's Final Oracles
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Balaam Prophesies Yet Again
[[#Verse 01.]] When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.Â
[[#Verse 02.]]Â When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe;Â and the Spirit of God came upon him.Â
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Then he uttered this oracle:
âThe oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open,
[[#Verse 04.]]Â the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:
[[#Verse 05.]] âHow beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwelling places, O Israel!
[[#Verse 06.]] They are like valleys stretched forth,
like gardens by the riverâs side,
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
and like cedar trees beside the waters.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â He will pour the water out of his buckets,
and their descendants will be like abundant water;
their king will be greater than Agag,
and their kingdom will be exalted.
[[#Verse 08.]]Â God brought them out of Egypt.
They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull;
they will devour hostile people,
and will break their bones,
and will pierce them through with arrows.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â They crouch and lie down like a lion,
and as a lioness, who can stir him?
Blessed is the one who blesses you,
and cursed is the one who curses you!ââ
[[#Verse 10.]] Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, âI called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times!Â
[[#Verse 11.]] So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you, but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.â
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Balaam said to Balak, âDid I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,Â
[[#Verse 13.]] âIf Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the Lord tells me I must speakâ?Â
[[#Verse 14.]] And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in future days.â
### Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time
[[#Verse 15.]]Â Then he uttered this oracle:
âThe oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open,
[[#Verse 16.]]Â the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
and who knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:
[[#Verse 17.]]Â âI see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not close at hand.
A star will march forth out of Jacob,
and a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the skulls of Moab,
and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â Edom will be a possession,
Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession;
but Israel will act valiantly.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â A ruler will be established from Jacob;
he will destroy the remains of the city.ââ
### Balaamâs Final Prophecies
[[#Verse 20.]] Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:
âAmalek was the first of the nations,
but his end will be that he will perish.â
[[#Verse 21.]]Â Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:
âYour dwelling place seems strong,
and your nest is set on a rocky cliff.
[[#Verse 22.]]Â Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed.
How long will Asshur take you away captive?â
[[#Verse 23.]]Â Then he uttered this oracle:
âO, who will survive when God does this!
[[#Verse 24.]]Â Ships will come from the coast of Kittim,
and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber,
and he will also perish forever.â
[[#Verse 25.]] Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
-
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. This time Balaam did not seek omens as before (24:1).
2. The Spirit of God came on Balaam (24:2), even though he was not a faithful follower of the Lord.
3. Numbers 24:5 begins the prayer *Mah Tovu*, often recited when entering a synagogue.
4. Numbers 24:9 echoes God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and Jacob's blessing of Judah in Genesis 49:9.
5. Balak struck his hands together in anger (24:10), a sign of contempt.
6. Balaam blessed Israel three times when he was hired to curse them (24:10).
7. Rabbi Akiva applied the star prophecy (24:17) to Simon bar Kosiba, who led a revolt against Rome in AD 132 and became known as Bar Kokhba, "son of the star."
8. Amalek is called "first among the nations" (24:20), likely because it was the first to attack Israel (Exodus 17:8).
9. Kittim (24:24) usually refers to Cyprus and later to peoples from the west.
10. Balaam's blessing that Israel's king would be higher than Agag (24:7) connects to Saul's encounter with Agag (1 Samuel 15:8).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Star from Jacob and the Scepter from Israel (24:17). The Magi followed a star to worship the newborn King (Matthew 2:2), and Jesus calls Himself the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Balaam saw Israel camped by tribes and blessed them (24:2-5). What does it look like for God's people to be a blessing others can see?
2. The prophecy of a star and scepter (24:17) looks far into the future. How does it encourage you that God's plans span centuries?
3. Balak was furious that his plan failed (24:10). What happens when people fight against what God has blessed?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 5: How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.
- đ verse 9: Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed.
- đ verse 17: A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Genesis 12#Verse 03.|Genesis 12:3]] - I will bless those who bless you.
- đ [[Genesis 49#Verse 09.|Genesis 49:9-10]] - The lion of Judah and the scepter.
- đ [[Matthew 02#Verse 01.|Matthew 2:1-2]] - The Magi follow His star.
- đ [[Revelation 22#Verse 16.|Revelation 22:16]] - Jesus is the bright morning star.
- đ [[2 Peter 01#Verse 19.|2 Peter 1:19]] - The morning star rises in your hearts.
## đ Devotional Reflection
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đ Internal Notes