Numbers 24

Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 1407 BC – 1406 BC · Egypt & the Exodus · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·

25 verses · 580 words · ~3 min read · ~4 min listen

Balaamʼs Third Oracle

¹And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. ²When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, ³and he lifted up an oracle, saying:

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

⁴the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with eyes wide open:

⁵How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

your dwellings, O Israel!

⁶They spread out like palm groves,

like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes the Lord has planted,

like cedars beside the waters.

⁷Water will flow from his buckets,

and his seed will have abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,

and his kingdom will be exalted.

⁸God brought him out of Egypt

with strength like a wild ox,

to devour hostile nations and crush their bones,

to pierce them with arrows.

⁹He crouches, he lies down like a lion;

like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

Blessed are those who bless you

and cursed are those who curse you.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

¹⁰Then Balakʼs anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. ¹¹Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the Lord has denied your reward.”

¹²Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me ¹³that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord? I must speak whatever the Lord says. ¹⁴Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Balaamʼs Fourth Oracle

¹⁵Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying,

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

¹⁶the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with eyes wide open:

¹⁷I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come forth from Jacob,

and a scepter will arise from Israel.

He will crush the skulls of Moab

and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

¹⁸Edom will become a possession,

as will Seir, his enemy;

but Israel will perform with valor.

¹⁹A ruler will come from Jacob

and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaamʼs Final Three Oracles

²⁰Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Amalek was first among the nations,

but his end is destruction.”

²¹Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Your dwelling place is secure,

and your nest is set in a cliff.

²²Yet Kain will be destroyed

when Asshur takes you captive.”

²³Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Ah, who can live

unless God has ordained it?

²⁴Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;

they will subdue Asshur and Eber,

but they too will perish forever.”

²⁵Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

Footnotes (5)

a v4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
b v6 Or like valleys
c v17 SP foreheads; Hebrew corners (of the head); LXX princes
d v22 Or Assyria; also in verse 24
e v24 Hebrew Kittim

Study notes on this chapter · 1

Prophecy & fulfillmentDebated

A star will come out of Jacob

The seer Balaam, hired to curse Israel, instead foresees a star rising from Jacob and a scepter from Israel that crushes Moab and Edom. Jewish and Christian readers have applied it to David, to the Messiah, and to later leaders. Matthew's magi follow a star, and Revelation calls Jesus the bright morning star.

When: Numbers (wilderness period); David subdues Moab and Edom, c. 1000 BC; Matthew, c. AD 60–85.

Original passageNumbers 24:15–19

Where the New Testament applies it2 Samuel 8:2

Echoed inMatthew 2:1–2Revelation 22:16

Ways people read this (3)

Fulfilled first in David's conquest of Moab and Edom (2 Samuel 8), and in his dynasty.
Messianic: the king and deliverer to come (as in many early Jewish and Christian writings).
The star in Matthew 2 may echo the oracle, though Matthew does not cite it.

Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.

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Numbers 24

Balaamʼs Third Oracleⓘ

Balak Dismisses Balaamⓘ

Balaamʼs Fourth Oracleⓘ