New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 24
1
Balaam saw that the Lord was pleased to give his blessing to Israel. So he didn't try to use evil magic as he had done at other times. Instead, he turned and looked toward the desert.
Reference
Blessing
Numbers 23:20
Parallel theme
Numbers 23:28
References Israel
Numbers 23:23
Revelation 2:14
1 Samuel 26:2
1 Samuel 24:20
References Lord
Numbers 23:3
Numbers 22:13
Numbers 23:15
Numbers 31:16
2
He looked out and saw Israel. They had set up their camps tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him.
Reference
3
Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor. It's the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.
Reference
4
It's the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God. He sees a vision from the Mighty One. He falls down flat with his face toward the ground. His eyes have been opened by the Lord.
Reference
5
"People of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful. Israel, the places where you live are very beautiful.
6
"They spread out like valleys. They are like gardens beside a river. They are like aloes the Lord has planted. They are like cedar trees beside a stream.
Reference
7
Their water buckets will run over. Their seeds will have plenty of water. "Their king will be greater than King Agag. Their kingdom will be honored.
Reference
People
8
"God brought them out of Egypt. They are as strong as a wild ox. They eat up nations that are at war with them. They break their bones in pieces. They wound them with their arrows.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 45:5
Psalm 2:9
Jeremiah 50:17
Numbers 23:24
Numbers 14:9
Isaiah 38:13
Jeremiah 50:9
Psalm 21:12
Deuteronomy 32:23
References God
Numbers 23:22
9
Like a male lion they lie down and sleep. They are like a female lion. Who dares to wake them up? May those who bless you be blessed! May those who call down a curse on you be cursed!"
Reference
Blessing
Genesis 12:3
Genesis 27:29
Parallel theme
Genesis 49:9
Numbers 23:24
Matthew 25:45
Matthew 25:40
10
Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He slapped his hands together. He said to Balaam, "I sent for you to put a curse on my enemies. But you have given them a blessing three times.
Reference
Blessing
Numbers 23:11
Nehemiah 13:2
Numbers 22:6
Curse
Numbers 22:17
Numbers 22:11
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 21:14
Job 27:23
Ezekiel 22:13
Ezekiel 21:17
11
Get out of here right away! Go home! I said I'd make you very rich. But the Lord has kept you from getting rich."
Reference
12
Balaam answered Balak, "Here is what I told the messengers you sent me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 22:18
13
I said, 'Balak could give me his palace filled with silver and gold. Even if I wanted to, I still couldn't do anything at all that goes beyond what the Lord commands. I have to say only what the Lord tells me to say.'
14
"Now I'm going back to my people. But come. Let me warn you about what these people will do to your people in days to come."
Reference
15
Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor. It's the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 23:7
16
It's the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God. The Most High God has given him knowledge. He sees a vision from the Mighty One. He falls down flat with his face toward the ground. His eyes have been opened by the Lord.
Reference
Word
Numbers 24:4
17
"I see him, but I don't see him now. I view him, but he isn't near. A star will come from among the people of Jacob. A king will rise up out of Israel. He'll crush the foreheads of the people of Moab. He'll crush the skulls of all of the sons of Sheth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:16
Genesis 49:10
Revelation 1:7
Revelation 11:15
Psalm 45:6
Zechariah 10:4
Hebrews 1:8
Luke 1:78
1 Chronicles 18:2
Resurrection
2 Peter 1:19
18
He'll win the battle over Edom. He'll win the battle over his enemy Seir. But Israel will grow strong.
Reference
19
A ruler will come from among the people of Jacob. He'll destroy those from the city who are still alive."
Reference
20
Then Balaam saw the people of Amalek. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel. But they will finally be destroyed."
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 17:14
21
Then he saw the Kenites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "The place where you live is safe. Your nest is on a high cliff.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 15:19
22
But you Kenites will be destroyed. Assyria will take you as prisoners."
📍 Locations
23
Then he spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Who can live when God does this?
Reference
References God
Numbers 23:23
24
Ships will come from the shores of Kittim. They will bring Assyria and Eber under their control. But they themselves will also be destroyed."
Reference
📍 Locations
25
Then Balaam got up and returned home. And Balak went on his way.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 31:8
Chapter Summary
Numbers 24 resumes the saga of Balaam and Balak. After two failed attempts to curse Israel, Balak takes a further measure to induce Balaam to bring a curse upon Israel. This time, however, when Balaam speaks, it is not a curse, but a number of messages from God which talk of blessing, strength, prosperity, and victories over several of Israel's enemies.
It is now clear to Balaam that God wishes to bless Israel, and so he no longer goes aside to seek a chance to deliver a different message; instead, he gazes out over the wilderness and sees the Israelites drawn up in their tribal formations.
The Spirit of God falls upon Balaam, and he begins to speak. He describes himself as a man whose eyes are opened and who hears the voice of God, and he sees a vision of the Israelite camp, which he sees as gardens by a river, trees planted by the Lord, and cedar trees by the waters.
Balaam's words tell of a nation that will become prosperous and strong; water is used to signify abundance, and the trees are signs of security and growth. He says that Israel's king will be greater than Agag and that Israel's kingdom will be exalted.
He gazes back at how Israel has been delivered from Egypt, and describes God as being the one who has brought them through, and says that Israel has the strength of a wild ox; they will consume the nations which oppose them, breaking their bones. The strength of the language is that Balaam is describing Israel's military potential and their power to overcome their enemies.
Balaam then talks about the lion, saying that Israel is a people who lift up like a lion and do not lie down until they have devoured their prey. The strength and confidence of Israel is depicted as a lion.
Balak is enraged by the words Balaam has spoken, and beats his hands together, and tells Balaam that he has brought him to deliver curses upon his enemies, but Balaam has blessed them three times. Balak says that he had intended to show Balaam honor, but the Lord has hindered him from doing so.
Balak asks Balaam if he had said that even a house full of silver and gold would not persuade him to go beyond the command of the Lord, and Balaam replies that he cannot speak that which God delivers to him.
Balaam then announces that he is returning home, but before his departure he delivers one further message to Balak, telling him what Israel will do to Moab in the future. A star will rise out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of Israel, and such a one will be ruler. The prophecy continues to build, and Israel is depicted as being victorious over a number of their enemies, particularly Moab and Edom. Amalek is also mentioned; Balaam says that Amalek will eventually cease to be (one of the earliest enemies against Israel which they have overcome after leaving Egypt). Finally, Balaam speaks of the Kenites; their strength appears secure as they are settled in a rocky place, but they too will eventually be laid waste and captured.
The final prophecy of the chapter concerns Asshur (which has been identified as Assyria), and speaks of ships coming up from the coast of Chittim to afflict Asshur and Eber, but then the conquering one will also come to destruction; the prophecy indicates that none are truly secure in this world. Balaam and Balak part ways, and Balak does not obtain his desired outcome. Israel has been protected by the Lord.
Numbers 24 draws to a close the conflict between Balak and Balaam. Balak has attempted on a number of occasions to use the services of Balaam to curse Israel, and has taken Balaam to different places (hoping that conditions would change), and has offered him wealth and honor, but each time the messages which Balaam has delivered have thwarted Balak's intentions. Israel has been blessed by the Lord, and has been described as a nation which is strong, and which will obtain prosperity and victory over their enemies.
Numbers 24 also contains some of the most poignant prophetic speeches in the Balaam story, and the motif of a star coming out of Jacob and a sceptre out of Israel has been interpreted in a variety of ways by biblical commentators. The context for these sayings is that the prophecy which Balaam delivers is connected with Israel's power and victories over their enemies (particularly Moab).
Balaam's power as a prophet is also highlighted in what he says; he was promised gold and silver by Balak, but repeatedly tells Balak that he is unable to speak against Israel, as has been commanded by God. The king can decide where he must go and what sacrifices must be brought, but it is God who decides what Balaam must say.
The chapter concludes with a number of the nations which will oppose Israel being defeated (some of which will also be mentioned in other parts of Scripture), but the message is clear; no one is secure, as they will all eventually be brought to destruction, either by themselves or by others, and Israel's enemies will not be able to prevent Israel from obtaining the blessing which the Lord has given to them.
Numbers 24 concludes the saga of Balaam and Balak with a number of blessings to Israel, and not the curse which Balak had desired. Israel has been blessed by the Lord, and their enemies will not successfully hinder them. The Israelites are still camped near Moab, but the events of these chapters have demonstrated that their enemies cannot simply use curses to defeat them (or to hinder them) in the manner that they had hoped to succeed.
It is now clear to Balaam that God wishes to bless Israel, and so he no longer goes aside to seek a chance to deliver a different message; instead, he gazes out over the wilderness and sees the Israelites drawn up in their tribal formations.
The Spirit of God falls upon Balaam, and he begins to speak. He describes himself as a man whose eyes are opened and who hears the voice of God, and he sees a vision of the Israelite camp, which he sees as gardens by a river, trees planted by the Lord, and cedar trees by the waters.
Balaam's words tell of a nation that will become prosperous and strong; water is used to signify abundance, and the trees are signs of security and growth. He says that Israel's king will be greater than Agag and that Israel's kingdom will be exalted.
He gazes back at how Israel has been delivered from Egypt, and describes God as being the one who has brought them through, and says that Israel has the strength of a wild ox; they will consume the nations which oppose them, breaking their bones. The strength of the language is that Balaam is describing Israel's military potential and their power to overcome their enemies.
Balaam then talks about the lion, saying that Israel is a people who lift up like a lion and do not lie down until they have devoured their prey. The strength and confidence of Israel is depicted as a lion.
Balak is enraged by the words Balaam has spoken, and beats his hands together, and tells Balaam that he has brought him to deliver curses upon his enemies, but Balaam has blessed them three times. Balak says that he had intended to show Balaam honor, but the Lord has hindered him from doing so.
Balak asks Balaam if he had said that even a house full of silver and gold would not persuade him to go beyond the command of the Lord, and Balaam replies that he cannot speak that which God delivers to him.
Balaam then announces that he is returning home, but before his departure he delivers one further message to Balak, telling him what Israel will do to Moab in the future. A star will rise out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of Israel, and such a one will be ruler. The prophecy continues to build, and Israel is depicted as being victorious over a number of their enemies, particularly Moab and Edom. Amalek is also mentioned; Balaam says that Amalek will eventually cease to be (one of the earliest enemies against Israel which they have overcome after leaving Egypt). Finally, Balaam speaks of the Kenites; their strength appears secure as they are settled in a rocky place, but they too will eventually be laid waste and captured.
The final prophecy of the chapter concerns Asshur (which has been identified as Assyria), and speaks of ships coming up from the coast of Chittim to afflict Asshur and Eber, but then the conquering one will also come to destruction; the prophecy indicates that none are truly secure in this world. Balaam and Balak part ways, and Balak does not obtain his desired outcome. Israel has been protected by the Lord.
Numbers 24 draws to a close the conflict between Balak and Balaam. Balak has attempted on a number of occasions to use the services of Balaam to curse Israel, and has taken Balaam to different places (hoping that conditions would change), and has offered him wealth and honor, but each time the messages which Balaam has delivered have thwarted Balak's intentions. Israel has been blessed by the Lord, and has been described as a nation which is strong, and which will obtain prosperity and victory over their enemies.
Numbers 24 also contains some of the most poignant prophetic speeches in the Balaam story, and the motif of a star coming out of Jacob and a sceptre out of Israel has been interpreted in a variety of ways by biblical commentators. The context for these sayings is that the prophecy which Balaam delivers is connected with Israel's power and victories over their enemies (particularly Moab).
Balaam's power as a prophet is also highlighted in what he says; he was promised gold and silver by Balak, but repeatedly tells Balak that he is unable to speak against Israel, as has been commanded by God. The king can decide where he must go and what sacrifices must be brought, but it is God who decides what Balaam must say.
The chapter concludes with a number of the nations which will oppose Israel being defeated (some of which will also be mentioned in other parts of Scripture), but the message is clear; no one is secure, as they will all eventually be brought to destruction, either by themselves or by others, and Israel's enemies will not be able to prevent Israel from obtaining the blessing which the Lord has given to them.
Numbers 24 concludes the saga of Balaam and Balak with a number of blessings to Israel, and not the curse which Balak had desired. Israel has been blessed by the Lord, and their enemies will not successfully hinder them. The Israelites are still camped near Moab, but the events of these chapters have demonstrated that their enemies cannot simply use curses to defeat them (or to hinder them) in the manner that they had hoped to succeed.