Números 24

Números 24

Guzik quips - Since Balak was not going to pay Balaam, Balaam would get back at him with a “free” prophecy, one that would show just how blessed Israel will be – both now and in the latter days. Jensen summarizes Nu 24:14-25 - Whereas the third discourse was predominantly positive in describing the blessed state of Israel, the last of Balaam’s sayings was predominantly negative with reference to the heathen nations, in that it foretold their ultimate destruction at the hands of the Israelites. Moab would be smitten by a “star” that would come forth out of Jacob, one of the great Old Testament prophecies, heralding in its ultimate fulfillment the coming of Christ. Edom and Seir would also fall. Amalek, the first of nations, would eventually be destroyed. The Kenites, Asshur, and Eber would also see destruction. “Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?” (Nu 24:23). Although, as noted earlier, Israel was apparently not aware of Balaam’s messages at the time of their delivery, they were to become acquainted with them eventually, since Moses would be incorporating them in the Torah. Balaam’s messages therefore were used eventually to instruct the Israelites as to their victorious future in the face of insurmountable opposition.(Ibid) Numbers 24:15 He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, BGT Numbers 24:15 καὶ ἀναλαβὼν τὴν παραβολὴν αὐτοῦ εἶπεν φησὶν Βαλααμ υἱὸς Βεωρ φησὶν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ ἀληθινῶς ὁρῶν NET Numbers 24:15 Then he uttered this oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; NLT Numbers 24:15 This is the message Balaam delivered: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, ESV Numbers 24:15 And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, NIV Numbers 24:15 Then he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, KJV Numbers 24:15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: YLT Numbers 24:15 And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut -- LXE Numbers 24:15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says, ASV Numbers 24:15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith; CSB Numbers 24:15 Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; NKJ Numbers 24:15 So he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; NRS Numbers 24:15 So he uttered his oracle, saying: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear, NAB Numbers 24:15 Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle: The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eye is true, NJB Numbers 24:15 He then declaimed his poem, as follows: The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of the man with far-seeing eyes, GWN Numbers 24:15 Then Balaam delivered this message: "This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor. This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear. Nu 24:3,4 23:7,18 Job 27:1 Mt 13:35 Numbers 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DISCOURSE #4 A MESSIANIC PROPHECY This last prophecy actually has 4 separate discourses, which give us a total of 7 discourses. He took up his discourse and said - Discourse (04912) see notes above on mashal (used 7x in Nu 23-24 - Nu 23:7, 18, Nu 24:3, 15, 20, 21, 23) I will open my mouth in a parable (mashal); I will utter dark sayings of old. -- Psalm 78:2 The oracle (neum) of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle (neum) of the man whose eye is opened - Eye is opened is a claim to his being able to see spiritual truth, in this case truth that would apply in part to the future of Moab, Balak's kingdom. The word oracle (neum) is used most often of divine utterances and this is the third of some 385 uses of neum in the Bible (first 2 uses - Ge 22:16, Nu 14:28) NN adds on oracle - The word נְאֻם (neum) is an “oracle.” It is usually followed by a subjective genitive, indicating the doer of the action. The word could be rendered “says,” but this translation is more specific. Numbers 24:16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered. BGT Numbers 24:16 ἀκούων λόγια θεοῦ ἐπιστάμενος ἐπιστήμην παρὰ ὑψίστου καὶ ὅρασιν θεοῦ ἰδὼν ἐν ὕπνῳ ἀποκεκαλυμμένοι οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ NET Numbers 24:16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: NLT Numbers 24:16 the message 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: ESV Numbers 24:16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: NIV Numbers 24:16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: KJV Numbers 24:16 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: YLT Numbers 24:16 An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered: LXE Numbers 24:16 hearing the oracles of God, receiving knowledge from the Most High, and having seen a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened. ASV Numbers 24:16 He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: CSB Numbers 24:16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered: NKJ Numbers 24:16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: NRS Numbers 24:16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered: NAB Numbers 24:16 The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows, Of one who sees what the Almighty sees, enraptured and with eyes unveiled. NJB Numbers 24:16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High. He sees what Shaddai makes him see, receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened. GWN Numbers 24:16 This is the message of the one who hears the words of God, receives knowledge from the Most High, has a vision from the Almighty, and falls into a trance with his eyes open: Nu 24:4 2Sa 23:1,2 1Co 8:1 13:2 Numbers 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows (yada - intimately knows) the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty - In Nu 24:15 Balaam's eye is opened and now it is his ear. Balaam is claiming supernatural insight and knowledge (knowledge of the Most High) from Yahweh. Note that in this single verse this pagan prophet/diviner/false teacher (Rev 2:14+, Jude 1:11+) amazingly mentions three great names of Yahweh - Elohim: My Creator; El Elyon: Most High God - Sovereign Over All; Shaddai - Almighty Falling down yet having his eyes uncovered - This suggest though prostrate, he still has spiritual vision and what a vision he has! The Septuagint translates with the noun hupno which means sleep. Numbers 24:17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. BGT Numbers 24:17 δείξω αὐτῷ καὶ οὐχὶ νῦν μακαρίζω καὶ οὐκ ἐγγίζει ἀνατελεῖ ἄστρον ἐξ Ιακωβ καὶ ἀναστήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ Ισραηλ καὶ θραύσει τοὺς ἀρχηγοὺς Μωαβ καὶ προνομεύσει πάντας υἱοὺς Σηθ NET Numbers 24:17 'I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. NLT Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the foreheads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth. ESV Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. NIV Numbers 24:17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. KJV Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. YLT Numbers 24:17 I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth. LXE Numbers 24:17 I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth. ASV Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult. CSB Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. NKJ Numbers 24:17 "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. NRS Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near-- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites. NAB Numbers 24:17 I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel, That shall smite the brows of Moab, and the skulls of all the Shuthites, NJB Numbers 24:17 I see him -- but not in the present. I perceive him -- but not close at hand: a star is emerging from Jacob, a sceptre is rising from Israel, to strike the brow of Moab, the skulls of all the children of Seth. GWN Numbers 24:17 I see someone who is not here now. I look at someone who is not nearby. A star will come from Jacob. A scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites and destroy all the people of Sheth. I shall see him: The marginal references will direct the reader to the fulfilment of these remarkable prophecies. Job 19:25-27 Zec 12:10 Jude 1:11,14,15 Rev 1:7 a Star: Mt 2:2-9 Lu 1:78 2Pe 1:19 Rev 22:16 a Sceptre: Ge 49:10 Ps 45:6 78:70-72 110:2 Isa 9:7 Lu 1:32,33 Heb 1:8 smite the corners of Moab: or, smite through the princes of Moab, 1Sa 14:38 Zec 10:4 Numbers 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Near Fulfillment - David; Far Fulfillment - Messiah PROPHECY OF A STAR FROM JACOB New American Commentary – The fourth oracle (DISCOURSE) required no journey to a sacred observation point, no sacrificial preparations, no standing by the sacrificial altars, and no performing of special rituals of divination. The Lord spontaneously prompted the prophet to commence his utterance against his former employer, from whom he never would receive his due compensation. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near - This is a Messianic prophecy. See more on Messianic Prophecy. Like most prophets, Balaam saw through a glass darkly. He saw visions of future things although he probably had little idea of the time or the full glory of the actual fulfillments. Peter described the OT prophets looking dimly through a mirror writing As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.(1 Peter 1:10-11+) The Targum of Onkelos translates this passage in the following manner: "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but he is not near. When a king shall arise from the house of Jacob, and the Messiah be anointed from the house of Israel; he shall slay the princes of Moab, and rule over all the children of men." Bush - The prevailing consent of commentators here determines in favor of rendering the verbs in the present instead of the future, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh.” A similar change of tenses is of frequent occurrence in Hebrew. The idea is, that he had a view in dim perspective of the event or the personage which constituted the main theme of his prophecy. As if he should say, “The person of whom I am now prophesying does not at present exist among the Israelites, nor shall he appear in this generation. His manifestation is reserved to after-times.” He sees him not now, for he is rapt in spirit out of the present into the future, to the “end of the days,” and there he sees him. He beholds him not nigh, for a great distance lies between the seer and the seen. His vision of Him is therefore like that of Abraham, who saw Christ’s day afar off, John 8:56. Messiah is the Star and is described as such in Revelation Revelation 22:16+ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (see Rev 2:28+, 2 Peter 1:19+ ) A star shall come forth from Jacob - That is this future star comes from Israel. This is a Messianic Prophecy. Note "him" in previous verse so this is not a literal star. Note parallel with scepter which would identify the star as a king. Merrill adds that "This has now been strikingly confirmed in prophetic texts from Mari which describe various kings by the epithet "star."" (BKC) Bush on come forth - Heb. dârak, which has the import of stepping onward, coming forth, proceeding, and sometimes of walking in a stately manner, like a king. From dârak, as a root, comes the derivative derek, a way. It is however, on the whole, an unusual word to bear the signification of coming, and doubtless involves an interior recondite sense in the present connection. What that sense is, we think, may be ascertained by bringing the passage into parallelism with the evangelical history of Christ’s birth, which we hold to be a perfectly legitimate mode of treating it. On that occasion we learn that a mysterious Star appeared to the Wise Men of the East, and guided their steps to the stable in Bethlehem where the Saviour was born. This was the moving, proceeding, or going forth of the Star which the prophet now beheld in anticipative vision. “They departed, and lo the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” A star has always been regarded in the East as a symbol of distinction, as the herald of any great and glorious birth among men, and this fact enables us to perceive the connecting link between seeing a star and concluding, as the wise men did, that a “King of the Jews” was born. It is no objection to this that the Star seen by Balaam was a symbol of Christ himself, whereas that seen by the Wise Men was a mere concomitant of his birth. In either case the Star was the ensign of an august personage, and Hengstenberg remarks that “it is not simply a literal star that is meant by Balaam. He uses the ‘star’ metaphorically, as is customary among all nations, to designate a great and illustrious ruler.” Nor is the objection to the proposed parallelism of any weight, that the Star prophetically seen by Balaam is said to “come out of Jacob,” whereas that seen by the Magi appeared first in the Eastern world remote from Judea, the birth-place of the Saviour. It is sufficient that He who was represented by the Star did originate, as to his earthly humanity, in the midst of the nation collectively denominated “Jacob,” and nothing in the local relations or aspects of the Star will avail to weaken the force of the symbolical coincidence to which we have alluded. The language describing the prophetic imagery sets before us a star proceeding, and such a star marshalled the way of the Wise Men to the birth-place of our Lord. Can we doubt then that, viewed in this light, the Star of the Eastern Magi stands in the closest relation to the star which Balaam saw in spirit, especially when our Lord expressly speaks of himself, Rev. 22:16, as “the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning Star.” This view is confirmed by the fact, that the Jews understood this prophecy as referring to the Messiah or Christ. The false Christ who, under Hadrian, took up arms against Rome, gave himself out as the Messiah whom Balaam had foretold, and assumed the name of Bar-chocab, or the Son of the Star, for the purpose of placing himself in nearer connection with that prophecy, although after being slain in battle the Jews, finding themselves deceived, called him Bar-coziba, the son of a lie. We are well aware of the dissenting opinions of many of the modern German critics, as it regards the designed application of this oracle to the stellar phenomenon which distinguished our Lord’s nativity, or even to the Lord himself; but we deem it not expedient to advert to them, as the above interpretation is satisfactory to us, and will probably commend itself to those who are prepared to believe that the Sacred Volume has proceeded from an intelligence which “sees the end from the beginning.” So also in regard to a secondary application both of the Star and the Sceptre to David. As we see no evidence of any such intended application, we pass it by without remark. To the “Sceptre” we assign substantially the same symbolical significance as to the Star. They differ only as Jacob differs from Israel, which is merely in certain phases of representative import. The original may be rendered literally a rod or a staff, and denotes a badge or emblem of government. Gr. “A man shall rise out of Israel.” Chald. “Messiah (or Christ) shall be anointed of the house of Israel,” i. e., shall assume the sovereign power. As David and other kings bore the sceptre as an ensign of power, so it is said of Christ, that he should have a rod or sceptre. Ps. 45:7, “The sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.” Heb. 1:8, “Thou shalt rule them with a rod (or sceptre) of iron.” The emblem of regal authority and supremacy, becomes him who is King of Zion and the Prince of Peace. But his kingdom is not of this world. He received it not by any earthly appointment. It is not an outward and visible kingdom, but a kingdom established in men’s hearts, and its sceptre is swayed over the thoughts and emotions of the soul, softening, subduing, and sweetly controlling them. His kingdom is a government of religious and heavenly influence, a system of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. To this kingdom, established near thirty centuries after the days of Balaam, does the immense reach of this prophecy extend. NN - This is a figure for a king (see Star of the morning in Isa 14:12 - describing Satan!) not only in the Bible but in the ancient Near Eastern literature as a whole. The immediate reference of the prophecy seems to be to David (NEAR FULFILLMENT), but the eschatological theme goes beyond him. There is to be a connection made between this passage and the sighting of a star in its ascendancy by the magi, who then traveled to Bethlehem to see the one born King of the Jews (Matt 2:2+). The expression “son of a star” (Aram Bar Kochba = "Son of the Star") became a title for a later claimant to kingship, but he was doomed by the Romans in A.D. 135. Holman Old Testament Commentary - The star (Heb. Kokab), once used by Isaiah to describe the king of Babylon whom some say represented Satan (Isa. 14:12), also depicted the "Root and the Offspring of David" (Rev. 22:16). Such a "ruler will come out of Jacob" and "rule in the midst of her enemies (Ps. 110:2). Life Application Study Bible. The star that will rise from Jacob is often thought to refer to the coming Messiah. It was probably this prophecy that convinced the astrologers to travel to Israel to search for the baby Jesus (see Matthew 2:1, 2). It seems strange that God would use a sorcerer like Balaam to foretell the coming of the Messiah. But this teaches us that God can use anything or anyone to accomplish his plans. By using a sorcerer, God did not make sorcery acceptable; in fact, the Bible condemns it in several places (Exodus 22:18; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Revelation 18:23). Rather, God showed his ultimate sovereignty over good and evil. A scepter shall rise from Israel - Scepter (shebet) speaks of authority and in context is a metonymy for a coming king ("star"). This coming One from the lineage of Israel will have authority to wage war victoriously. Genesis 49:10 (A CLEAR MESSIANIC PROPHECY) “The scepter (shebet) shall not depart from Judah (cf "Lion of the tribe of Judah" Rev 5:5+), Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (cf Ps 2:12). And shall crush through the forehead of Moab And tear down all the sons of Sheth (note) - NLT = "It will crush the foreheads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth." Now Balak would begin to be disturbed, for this language is very clear to him. NN - The prophecy begins to be fulfilled when David defeated Moab and Edom and established an empire including them. But the Messianic promise extends far beyond that to the end of the age and the inclusion of these defeated people in the program of the coming King (ED: And the Day of the Lord).. Hobbs has an interesting note on Sheth - the Hebrew word translated Sheth is the same word as that for the name of Adam’s son who became the ancestor of all humankind (Ge 4:25; Ge 5:3-4). Thus the Jewish interpretation of the words all the children of Sheth is that they refer to all the people on the face of the earth and predict the extent of the Messiah’s rule. Nelson's NKJV Study Bible - The pagan Balaam had a vision of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ! He was visible from afar. He was like a Star, radiant and beautiful. He was like a Scepter, majestic and powerful. And He is the victor over His enemies, including Moab — the nation that hired Balaam to curse Israel! Wishing On Stars A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. —Numbers 24:17 Today's Scripture: Matthew 2:1-10 On the night Jesus was born, the bright light of a single star announced His birth. It was an announcement that many had hoped and prayed for, yet many missed. Perhaps they were like me. Perhaps their hopes were more like dreams and their prayers were more like wishes. Maybe they were looking for a star that would grant every whim, not a light that would reveal their sin. Every Christmas when I sing in our church’s annual Festival of Lights program, I wish for several things. I wish for those few magic moments when the choir is so perfectly in tune that I can’t hear anyone, yet I can hear everyone. I think that’s what the music of heaven will be like. Every night when people are laughing at the drama, I wish that I could see what’s so funny. But I always get stuck in a part of the choir loft that’s behind the set. Yes, I wish for these things, but I know that instead of wishing to hear the pure strains of a few songs, I ought to pray that I will hear God when He speaks. Instead of wishing I could see the drama, I should pray that my eyes would see Jesus and not be distracted by the world. What Does God Want From Me? Trust (Psalm 37:3; Proverbs 3:5-6) Praise (Psalm 67:3; 100:3-4) Obedience (John 15:8-14; James 1:22-25) Christmas is a time to think of what God gave to us and what we can give to Him. Numbers 24:18 "Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. BGT Numbers 24:18 καὶ ἔσται Εδωμ κληρονομία καὶ ἔσται κληρονομία Ησαυ ὁ ἐχθρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ Ισραηλ ἐποίησεν ἐν ἰσχύι NET Numbers 24:18 Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. NLT Numbers 24:18 Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph. ESV Numbers 24:18 Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. NIV Numbers 24:18 Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. KJV Numbers 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. YLT Numbers 24:18 And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, for its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly; LXE Numbers 24:18 And Edom shall be an inheritance, and Esau his enemy shall be an inheritance of Israel, and Israel wrought valiantly. ASV Numbers 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, who were his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly. CSB Numbers 24:18 Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. NKJ Numbers 24:18 "And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, While Israel does valiantly. NRS Numbers 24:18 Edom will become a possession, Seir a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. NAB Numbers 24:18 Till Edom is dispossessed, and no fugitive is left in Seir. Israel shall do valiantly, NJB Numbers 24:18 Edom too will be a conquered land, Seir too will be a conquered land, when Israel exerts his strength, GWN Numbers 24:18 Edom will be conquered, and Seir, his enemy, will be conquered. So Israel will become wealthy. BHT Numbers 24:18 wühäyâ ´édôm yürëšâ wühäyâ yürëšâ Së`îr ´öybäyw wüyiSrä´ël `öºSè Häºyil Ge 27:29,40 2Sa 8:14 Ps 60:1 *title Ps 60:8-12 Isa 34:5 63:1 Am 9:12 Numbers 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PROPHECIES AGAINST EDOM AND SEIR Edom shall be a possession. Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession - NLT = "Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered" Recall that Edom had rejected the request of Moses for safe passage (Nu 20:14-21). They would pay for their rejection! Seir was another name for Edom (Ge 32:3 = "land of Seir, the country of Edom",cf Dt 2:4). NN - Seir is the chief mountain range of Edom (Dt 33:2), and so the reference here is to the general area of Edom. Bush on Seir - That is, shall be or become a possession of Israel. Seir is the name of the mountain, or mountainous region, where Esau dwelt, Gen. 36:7, 8, for which reason the Gr. renders it, “And Esau his enemy shall be a possession (or inheritance).” Edom and Seir are here used on the principle of parallellism so common in Hebrew poetry. They differ not more than Jacob and Israel. While Israel performs valiantly - NLT = "while Israel marches on in triumph." NIV = "but Israel will grow strong." The Hebrew word chayil has the basic idea of strength and influence and is translated in the Lxx with ischus which describes the capability to function effectively, strength, might. Through God we shall do valiantly (chayil), And it is He who will tread down our adversaries. -- Psalm 60:12 Bush - And Edom shall be a possession. This was primarily fulfilled in David, of whom it is said, 2 Sam. 8:14, that “he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants.” So also David himself in two of his psalms, Ps. 60:8, 108:9, mentions together his conquest of Moab and Edom, as they are also joined together in this prophecy; “Moab is my wash-pot, over Edom will I cast out my shoe.” But the ulterior reference of this prophecy to Christ and his victory over a spiritual Edom is evident from Isa 63:1–6+, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” etc. Hobbs on Edom and Seir - In another pairing, Balaam used two terms to refer to those who lived just south of Moab. Seir and Edom are two names for Esau’s descendants (see Jdg. 5:4). The Edomites were the people and Seir was the mountainplace where they lived (Deut. 33:2). Throughout its history, Edom remained an implacable foe of Israel. Later prophets announced God’s final judgment on Edom (see, for example, Isa. 63:1-6). Under David, temporary victories were won over these enemies. But like the other passages in this lesson, this prophecy refers to the ultimate victory and reign of the Lord Jesus as Messiah-King. In fact, in prophecies of the end-time judgment words such as Edom and Seir stand for any enemies of God’s people and their Messiah-King. Numbers 24:19 "One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city." BGT Numbers 24:19 καὶ ἐξεγερθήσεται ἐξ Ιακωβ καὶ ἀπολεῖ σῳζόμενον ἐκ πόλεως NET Numbers 24:19 A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.'" NLT Numbers 24:19 A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir." ESV Numbers 24:19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" NIV Numbers 24:19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city." KJV Numbers 24:19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. YLT Numbers 24:19 And one doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.' LXE Numbers 24:19 And one shall arise out of Jacob, and destroy out of the city him that escapes. ASV Numbers 24:19 And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city. CSB Numbers 24:19 One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors. NKJ Numbers 24:19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, And destroy the remains of the city." NRS Numbers 24:19 One out of Jacob shall rule, and destroy the survivors of Ir." NAB Numbers 24:19 and Jacob shall overcome his foes. NJB Numbers 24:19 when Jacob tramples on his enemies and destroys the last survivors of Ar. GWN Numbers 24:19 He will rule from Jacob and destroy whoever is left in their cities." Of Jacob: Ge 49:10 Ps 2:1-12 72:10,11 Isa 11:10 Mic 5:2,4 Mt 28:18 1Co 15:25 Eph 1:20-22 Php 2:10,11 Heb 1:8 1Pe 3:22 Rev 19:16 destroy: Ps 21:7-10 Mt 25:46 Lu 19:12,27 Numbers 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PROPHECY OF DOMINION OF ONE RISING UP FROM JACOB One from Jacob shall have dominion - NLT = "A ruler will rise up in Jacob." The Septuagint translates "One from Jacob" with the verb exegeiro which means to "raise up" or to "cause to appear" (exegeiro is used in the same way in Zech 11:16 = "I am going to raise up a shepherd [MESSIAH] in the land" and of Pharaoh in Ro 9:17). Exegeiro is in the future passive (power exerted from without), which would support the premise that the One caused to appear here in Nu 24:19 will be the Messiah. The Hebrew verb for have dominion also supports the Messianic character of this passage. Have dominion is radah (see below) conveys the picture of one exercising domain over those under Him or subjugated to Him. See use below of radah in Messianic Psalms Ps 72:8 and Ps 110:2. Balaam is prophesying of a ruler who would rise up in Israel and exercise dominion, which is almost certainly a description of the future dominion of the Messiah as John describes " Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev 11:15+) (See Messianic Prophecy) Bush - Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion. This is little more than a repetition of the announcement, v. 17, under the figure of the “Star” and the “Sceptre.” The verb in the original has no subject expressed, but it is easily supplied from the tenor of the context. It is observable, however, that our translators have here relaxed somewhat of their usual scrupulousness in regard to Italics, according to which they should have rendered:—“Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion.” The Lord the Messiah is evidently the personage intended, and thus has it been understood from the earliest periods by the Jews. Thus Chald. “And there shall descend one from the house of Jacob and shall destroy him who escapes from the city of the peoples.” Targ. Jon. “And a ruler shall rise up out of the house of Jacob.” So Sol. Jarchi, “And yet there shall be another ruler out of Jacob, and he shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. Of the King Christ he speaketh thus, of whom it is said (Ps. 72:8), ‘He shall have dominion from sea to sea.’ ” Henry