CHAPTER 24 BALAAM'S FINAL FAILED ATTEMPT IS FOLLOWED BY VARIOUS PROPHECIES. Numbers 24:1 ‘And when Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.' Balaam now recognised that it was... [ Continue Reading ]
Numbers 24:3 (3a-9) ‘And he took up his incantation (parable), and said,' Here he begins with what was clearly his normal way of going into deep trance and follows it with a series of contrasts presented chiastically. Numbers 24:3 (3b-9) “Balaam the son of Beor says, And the man whose eye was c... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together, and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.” ' By this time Balak was very angry. He smote his hands together in his fury and cried, ‘I c... [ Continue Reading ]
“ Therefore now flee you to your place. I thought to promote you to great honour, but, lo, Yahweh has kept you back from honour.” Then he warned him to flee before vengeance overtook him. He had been given hospitality and could therefore not be harmed, but let him not assume that he would be safe i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak also to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind. What Yahweh says, that will I speak?” But Balaam replied equally... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHECIES OF BALAAM (NUMBERS 24:14). Balaam then told Balak that he would be returning to his people. This may signify his fellow soothsayers, living together as a people. Or it may simply mean he was returning to the Amavites. However, before doing so, being in prophetic mode, he offered him... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM PROPHESIES CONCERNING ISRAEL (NUMBERS 24:15) Numbers 24:15 ‘And he took up his oracle (parable), and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, A And the man whose eye was closed says, B He says, who hears the words of God, C And knows the knowledge of the Most High, B Who sees the vision of... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM LOOKS ON AND PROPHESIES CONCERNING WANDERING AMALEK (NUMBERS 24:20). As we come to this final prophecy we should note that it is specifically stated that Balaam ‘looked on' Amalek and the Kenite. Exactly the same expression is used in verse 2 of him ‘looking on Israel' (translated ‘saw'). The... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM LOOKS ON AND PROPHESIES CONCERNING THE WANDERING KENITES (NUMBERS 24:21). Numbers 24:21 a ‘And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his oracle, and said,' In the same way as with the Amalekites we may see that a group of Kenites were present, connected with the Midianites to whom they were... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM PROPHESIES CONCERNING EBER (ISRAEL AND THEIR FELLOW SEMITES) (NUMBERS 24:23). Numbers 24:23 a ‘And he took up his oracle, and said,' We note immediately that he did not ‘look on' those of whom he now spoke. Numbers 24:23 (23b-24) “Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships will... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.' The affair of Balaam was now concluded. Israel remained blessed and Balak went one way and Balaam another, with the latter ‘returning to his place'. However to his cost he would return to give assistance to the M... [ Continue Reading ]