Numbers 24
Summary for Num 24:1-2: 24:1-2 a Unlike previously (23:3 b, 15 c), Balaam did not resort to divination this time. He already knew that auguries and omens could not harm Israel (23:23 d), so he quit looking for them. Instead, Balaam was directly inspired by the Spirit of God.Summary for Num 24:3-9: 24:3-9 e The third oracle contains another description of God’s plan to bless Israel.
Summary for Num 24:5-6: 24:5-6 f God’s love for his people was reflected in the blessings he showered upon them.
Summary for Num 24:6-7: 24:6-7 g The Lord’s favor is emphasized by the comparison of Israel’s situation with groves and gardens that have access to abundant water. Their growing population already reflected God’s blessing (24:7 h), as mentioned in 23:10 i. This would also become clear in the second registration (ch 26 j).
Summary for Num 24:7-9: 24:7b-9 k God’s blessing would enable the Israelites to overcome their enemies (see 24:15-24 l).
• Agag was an Amalekite king defeated by Saul (1 Sam 15:7-9 m, 32-33 n). The Amalekites, a desert people, were traditional enemies of the Hebrews (cp. Num 14:45 o; Exod 17:8-16 p), and it is likely that Agag was the traditional designation for their king. Since God brought Israel out of Egypt, he fought on their behalf, like a warrior and like a wild animal (ox and lion; Num 24:8-9 q).
• Blessed ... cursed: See Gen 12:3 r; 27:29 s.
24:10 t Balak clapped his hands in reproach (cp. Job 27:23 u; Lam 2:15 v).
24:14 w let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future: Since Balak sought to curse Israel, he and his people would be cursed (24:9 x). The damage that Balak hoped to inflict on Israel would fall on Moab.
Summary for Num 24:15-25: 24:15-25 y This prophecy provides more specific details than the first three. Based on another vision from the Almighty (24:16 z), it lists some of the enemies that Israel would defeat in the future and predicts the emergence of an outstanding leader who would play a major role in these military victories (24:17 aa).
24:17 ab A star was a symbol for a king (cp. Isa 14:12 ac; Matt 2:1-10 ad), and a scepter was an image of power and majesty (cp. Gen 49:10 ae; Ps 45:6 af). King David fits the description historically. The Moabites, whose defeat is mentioned in Num 24:17 ag, were among the many peoples conquered during his reign (2 Sam 8:2 ah), though Moab remained a dangerous enemy of Israel after David’s time (cp. 2 Kgs 3:1-27 ai; Isa 15–16 aj; Jer 48 ak). Many interpreters have extended the image beyond David. Christians identify Jesus of Nazareth with a star (cp. Matt 2:2 al; 2 Pet 1:19 am; Rev 2:28 an; 22:16 ao) and a scepter (cp. Heb 1:8 ap).
• The people of Sheth were probably the ancient Sutu, though it might refer to Edom/Seir (also conquered by David; Num 24:18 aq), Ir (or Ar) of Moab (24:19 ar; cp. 21:28 as), or Amalek, one of Israel’s earliest and most persistent enemies (24:20 at).
Summary for Num 24:21-22: 24:21-22 au The Kenites, a desert people who occupied some of the same regions as the Amalekites and Midianites, would be destroyed by Assyria. Moses married a Kenite (Judg 1:16 av; 4:11 aw; cp. Num 10:29-32 ax), and the Kenites remained mostly friendly with Israel thereafter (e.g., 1 Sam 15:6 ay; 27:10 az; 30:27-30 ba).
Summary for Num 24:23-24: 24:23-24 bb The oracle ends with a word about the rise and fall of invaders from Cyprus (Hebrew Kittim; this term probably referred to a number of Mediterranean people groups; cp. Gen 10:4 bc; Jer 2:10 bd; Dan 11:30 be). 24:23 bf This verse, like 22:12 bg, sums up the lesson of the entire incident.
24:24 bh Eber, spelled the same as the ancestor of the Hebrews (cp. Gen 10:21-25 bi; 11:10-16 bj), possibly refers to a people beyond the Euphrates River, a region that fits the parallel reference to Assyria (Josh 24:3 bk; Isa 7:20 bl).
24:25 bm Balaam did not yet go back to Pethor (31:8 bn).
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