Num 24:17 | TNotes | STEP | 24:17 A star was a symbol for a king (cp. Isa 14:12 ; Matt 2:1-10 ), and a scepter was an image of power and majesty (cp. Gen 49:10 ; Ps 45:6 ). King David fits the description historically. The Moabites, whose defeat is mentioned in Num 24:17 , were among the many peoples conquered during his reign (2 Sam 8:2 ), though Moab remained a dangerous enemy of Israel after David’s time (cp. 2 Kgs 3:1-27 ; Isa 15–16 ; Jer 48 ). Many interpreters have extended the image beyond David. Christians identify Jesus of Nazareth with a star (cp. Matt 2:2 ; 2 Pet 1:19 ; Rev 2:28 ; 22:16 ) and a scepter (cp. Heb 1:8 ). • The people of Sheth were probably the ancient Sutu, though it might refer to Edom/Seir (also conquered by David; Num 24:18 ), Ir (or Ar) of Moab (24:19 ; cp. 21:28 ), or Amalek, one of Israel’s earliest and most persistent enemies (24:20 ).

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

• The people of Sheth were probably the ancient Sutu, though it might refer to Edom/Seir (also conquered by David; Num 24:18 ^p), Ir (or Ar) of Moab (24:19 ^q; cp. 21:28 ^r), or Amalek, one of Israel’s earliest and most persistent enemies (24:20 ^s).