1Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesieth the happiness of Israel. 10Balak in anger dismisseth him. 15He prophesieth of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations.
1AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at aother times, 1to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
1Heb. to the meeting of enchantments, Is. 8.19; 44.25; 47.12.
a ch. 23.3,15.
2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel babiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the cspirit of God came upon him.
b ch. 2. Ca. 6.4,10. c ch. 11.26-29. 1Sa. 19.19-24. v.4,16. Ju. 3.10.
3And dhe took up his parable, and said, eBalaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man 2whose eyes are open hath said:
2Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened.
d ch. 23.7,18. e 2Sa. 23.1.
4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which fsaw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance , but having his eyes open:
f Ge. 15.12. Da. 8.17,18,27. Ac. 10.10. Re. 1.17. Eze. 1.28. 1Sa. 19.24.
5How ggoodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy *tabernacles, O Israel!
*tabernacles-tents, dwellings.
g ch. 2. Ca. 6.4,10,11. Col. 2.5.
6As the hvalleys are they spread forth, as igardens by the river's side, as the jtrees of *lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
*lign aloes-aromatic wood.
h ch. 2. Re. 11.15. Is. 11.9,10. i Ca. 4.12. Is. 58.11. Ps. 1.3; 46.4. Joel 3.18. Je. 31.12; 17.8. j Eze. 47.12; 31.3,4. Ps. 92.12,13; 104.16.
7He shall kpour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his lking shall be higher than mAgag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
k Ge. 22.17. Pr. 5.16-18. Is. 48.1. l Ps. 18.43. Ezr. 4.20. 1Ch. 14.9. 1Ki. 4.21. Is. 2.2. Da. 2.44. Re. 11.15. Mat. 28.18. m v.20. 1Sa. 15.8.
8God nbrought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an *unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall obreak their bones, and ppierce them through with his arrows.
*unicorn-wild bull.
n ch. 23.22,24; 14.9. De. 7.1. Jos. 6-22. 2Sa. 8; 10. 2Ch. 14; 20. Ps. 2.9; 45.5; 110.1,5,6; 21.8-12. Is. 60.12. o Je. 50.17. p Je. 50.9.
9He qcouched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? rBlessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
q Ge. 49.9. 1Ki. 4.25. ch. 23.24. r Ge. 12.3; 27.29.
10¶And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, sI called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
s ch. 23.11.
11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: tI thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath ukept thee back from honour.
t ch. 22.17,37. u Pr. 11.18; 16.9.
12And Balaam said unto Balak, vSpake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
v ch. 22.18.
13If 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 wof mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
w ch. 16.28.
14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore , and I xwill *advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the ylatter days.
*advertise-tell, inform.
x ch. 31.16. Re. 2.14. Mi. 6.5. y Ge. 49.1. Da. 10.14. Is. 24.22.
15¶And he ztook up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
z ch. 23.7,18. v.3,20,23. Job 27.1.
16He hath said, which aheard 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:
a Ge. 15.12. Da. 8.17,18; 10.16. Re. 1.17. 1Sa. 19.24. Ac. 10.10. v.3,4.
17I shall see bhim, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come ca Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall 3smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
3Or, smite through the princes of Moab.
b Ge. 49.10. Ps. 78.70-72; 60.8. 2Sa. 8. 2Ki. 3. Is. 11.14. Zec. 10.11. Jn. 1.9. Re. 22.16. ch. 23.9. c Mat. 2.2.
18And dEdom shall be a possession, eSeir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
d ch. 11.16. Ge. 27.29,40. Ps. 60.8-12. Am. 9.12. Is. 63.1,2; 34. Ob. Je. 49. Eze. 25.12-14; 35. 2Sa. 8.14. e Ge. 32.3.
19Out of Jacob shall come fhe that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
f Ps. 108.7-13; 110.1,5,6. 2Sa. 8; 10; 12. Da. 2.44.
20¶And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of 4the nations; but his glatter end 5shall be that he perish for ever.
4Or, the nations that warred against Israel, Ex. 17.8.
5Or, shall be even to destruction. Ex. 17.14.
g Ju. 6.3; 7; 8. 1Sa. 14.48; 15.3,7; 27.8; 30.1,17. 1Ch. 4.43. Es. 8; 9. Ex. 17.16.
21And he looked on hthe Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, iStrong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
h Ge. 15.19. i Job 29.18. Hab. 2.19. Ju. 1.16. Je. 49.16. Am. 9.2,3.
22Nevertheless the 6Kenite shall be wasted, 7until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
6Heb. Kain.
7Or, how long shall it be ere Asshur carry thee away captive?
23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24And jships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict kEber, and he also shall perish for ever.
j Is. 23.1. Da. 7.6,7,19; 8.5-8; 10.20; 11.3,30. Ge. 10.4. k Ge. 10.21,25.
25And Balaam rose up, and went and lreturned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
l ch. 31.8. Jos. 13.22.