Num 24:15-25 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 24:15-25: 24:15-25 This prophecy provides more specific details than the first three. Based on another vision from the Almighty (24:16 ), 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 ).

Summary for Num 24:15-25: 24:15-25 ^a This prophecy provides more specific details than the first three. Based on another vision from the Almighty (24:16 ^b), 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 ^c).
24:17 ^d A star was a symbol for a king (cp. Isa 14:12 ^e; Matt 2:1-10 ^f), and a scepter was an image of power and majesty (cp. Gen 49:10 ^g; Ps 45:6 ^h). King David fits the description historically. The Moabites, whose defeat is mentioned in Num 24:17 ⁱ, were among the many peoples conquered during his reign (2 Sam 8:2 ^j), though Moab remained a dangerous enemy of Israel after David’s time (cp. 2 Kgs 3:1-27 ^k; Isa 15–16 ^l; Jer 48 ^m). Many interpreters have extended the image beyond David. Christians identify Jesus of Nazareth with a star (cp. Matt 2:2 ⁿ; 2 Pet 1:19 ^o; Rev 2:28 ^p; 22:16 ^q) and a scepter (cp. Heb 1:8 ^r).

• The people of Sheth were probably the ancient Sutu, though it might refer to Edom/Seir (also conquered by David; Num 24:18 ^s), Ir (or Ar) of Moab (24:19 ^t; cp. 21:28 ^u), or Amalek, one of Israel’s earliest and most persistent enemies (24:20 ^v).
Summary for Num 24:21-22: 24:21-22 ^w 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 ^x; 4:11 ^y; cp. Num 10:29-32 ^z), and the Kenites remained mostly friendly with Israel thereafter (e.g., 1 Sam 15:6 ^aa; 27:10 ^ab; 30:27-30 ^ac).
Summary for Num 24:23-24: 24:23-24 ^ad 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 ^ae; Jer 2:10 ^af; Dan 11:30 ^ag). 24:23 ^ah This verse, like 22:12 ^ai, sums up the lesson of the entire incident.
24:24 ^aj Eber, spelled the same as the ancestor of the Hebrews (cp. Gen 10:21-25 ^ak; 11:10-16 ^al), possibly refers to a people beyond the Euphrates River, a region that fits the parallel reference to Assyria (Josh 24:3 ^am; Isa 7:20 ^an).
24:25 ^ao Balaam did not yet go back to Pethor (31:8 ^ap).