THE FOURTH BOOK OF
MOSES,
called
N U M B E R S
Numbers 24 ©
Balaam, laying aside his hypocrisy, prophesies the prosperity of Israel, v. 1, etc. Balak leaves him in anger, 10. But first Balaam prophesies of the star that was to go forth out of Jacob, and of the ruin and destruction of some nations, 14. After that, Balak and Balaam parted from each other, 25.
AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as 1at other times, to seek 2for enchantments, but he set his face 3toward the wilderness.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according 4to their tribes; and the spirit of God 5came upon him.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose 6eyes are open hath said:
He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, 7falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
As the valleys are 8they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign 9aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as 10cedar trees beside the waters.
He shall pour the water out of 11his buckets, and his seed shall be 12in many waters, and his king shall be higher than 13Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of ana unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall 14break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
Heb couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall 15stir him up? 16Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
¶And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and 17he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, 18thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Therefore now 19flee thou 20to thy place: I thought to 21promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the 22LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
Ifc Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad 23of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and 24I will advertised thee what this people shall do to thy people 25in the latter days.
¶And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
I 26shall see 27him, but not 28now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a 29Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the 30corners of Moab, and 31destroy all the 32children of Sheth.
And 33Edom shall be a possession, 34Seir also shall be a possession for 35his enemies; and Israel shall do 36valiantly.
Oute of Jacob shall come 37he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth 38of the city.
¶And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the 39first of the nations; 40but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
And he looked on the 41Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy 42nest in a rock.
Nevertheless the 43Kenite shall be wasted, 44until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, 45who shall live when God 46doeth 47this!
And ships shall come from the 48coast of 49Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict 50Eber, and 51he also shall perish for ever.
And Balaam rose up, and went and returned 52to his place: and Balak also went his way.