Numbers 24:1-25

The Old Testament Book of Numbers

In the Desert

Numbers

Marion Adams

Chapter 24

Balaam’s third *prophecy – Numbers 24:1-14

v1 Balaam realised that the *LORD wanted to *bless the *Israelites. So, this time, he did not follow his customs in order to find out the future. Instead, he looked towards the *desert.

v2 When Balaam looked, he saw the *Israelites’ camp. Each *tribe camped in its own group in its correct place. Then, God’s Spirit began to control him. v3 And Balaam spoke this *prophecy:

‘This is a *prophecy of Balaam, Beor’s son.

I see *spiritual things clearly.

v4 I hear what God says.

I see a *vision from God who helps his people in such a powerful manner.

My eyes are open as I fall down in front of him.

v5 You *Israelites, your camp is lovely.

Your homes are lovely, *Israelites!

v6 Your tents spread out like valleys.

They are like gardens next to a river.

They are like aloes (a type of plant) that the *LORD has planted.

They are like cedars (a type of tall tree) that grow next to the water.

v7 The *Israelites will have plentiful water which they will pour from their buckets.

The seeds that they plant will have lots of water!

The *Israelites’ king will be greater than Agag (the *Amalekite).

And their king will rule a very great nation.

v8 God brought the *Israelites out of the country called Egypt.

They are as strong as a wild ox (a type of wild cow).

They will defeat their enemies.

They will break their enemies’ bones and their arrows, too.

v9 *Israel is like a lion that lies down. It waits to attack!

*Israel is like a female lion. Nobody dares to waken it!

God will *bless those people who *bless *Israel.

And he will *curse those people who *curse *Israel.’

v10 Then Balak became very angry with Balaam. Balak struck his own hands together. He said to Balaam, ‘I brought you here to *curse my enemies. But you have *blessed them three times! v11 Go back to your home. I promised to reward you. But the *LORD has caused you to lose your reward.’

v12-13 Balaam replied to Balak, ‘You sent officials with your message to me. I told them that I had to obey the *LORD. I myself could do nothing, either good or bad. That was so even if you gave to me a palace full of silver and gold! And I could say only what the *LORD told me to say. v14 So I will go back to my home. But first, I will warn you about what the *Israelites will do to your nation in the future.’

Verses 1-2 Balaam knew that he could not oppose God. God was *blessing the *Israelites, so it was impossible for Balaam to *curse them. But still, Balak wanted Balaam to try again. Balak still did not understand the difference between magic and the power of God.

Magic has no power against God. Pagan *prophets did magic in several ways. (Pagan means to believe in false gods.) Often, they tried to tell what would happen in the future. To do this, they studied the movements of the stars. Also, they examined the inner parts of animals that they had *sacrificed to their gods. But God hates magic. He forbids people to do it (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

On the previous occasions, Balaam went to a private place in order to inquire of God. Perhaps on those occasions he tried to persuade God to *curse the *Israelites. And, as Balaam prayed alone, he followed various customs. We do not know what his customs were. But on this last occasion, Balaam did not follow those customs. He did not need to pray privately. He already knew that God wanted to *bless the *Israelites. Immediately, God spoke to Balaam by means of his *Holy Spirit. God told Balaam the words that he had to say.

Verses 3-9 Balaam saw a *vision from God. The *vision showed the future, when the *Israelites would live in the *Promised Land. Balaam compared the *Israelites’ homes there to beautiful gardens and strong trees. This emphasised that they would have plenty of water in the *Promised Land. Water is very precious, especially in hot countries. People need water to drink. Also, they need a good supply of water in order to produce crops. The *Israelites would have all the water that they needed. This was a great *blessing. Therefore, they would be content.

Next, Balaam emphasised the military power of the *Israelites. He *prophesied about *Israel’s future king. This king would be greater than the king of *Israel’s enemies, the *Amalekites. In fact, Saul, *Israel’s first king, defeated Agag, the *Amalekites’ king (1 Samuel 15:8).

Balaam reminded Balak that God had brought the *Israelites out of the country called Egypt. Since then, the *Israelites had become very strong. They had defeated their enemies. And they would continue to defeat all who fought against them. Again, Balaam compared *Israel’s strength and power to that of a wild cow and a lion.

Balaam ended his third *prophecy with words that were like God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).

Verse 10-14 To strike one’s hands together was like an insult. It showed that a person was very angry. This time, Balak sent Balaam away. He told Balaam that he would not receive any payment. And he said that God had caused Balaam to lose his reward!

However, Balaam had done what he had promised to do. He had told Balak’s officials that he would obey God (Numbers 22:18-20). Therefore, he could say only what God told him to say. Balak could not persuade Balaam to do anything else, even if he offered a great reward to Balaam.

So Balaam agreed that he would return to his home. But he had not finished his *prophecies. Before he left, he had more to say about the future.

Balaam’s 4th *prophecy – Numbers 24:15-19

v15 Then Balaam spoke a *prophecy. He said,

‘This is a *prophecy of Balaam, Beor’s son.

I see *spiritual things clearly.

v16 I hear what God is saying.

God, who is great, gives information to me.

I see a *vision from God, who helps his people in such a powerful manner.

My eyes are open as I fall down in front of him.

v17 I see what will happen in the future.

I can see this, although it will not happen soon.

A king will appear in *Israel. That king will be like a bright star.

A ruler will come from *Israel.

He will defeat the *Moabites.

He will kill the sons of Sheth.

v18 He will defeat his enemies in the country called Edom.

He will take their land. It will become his property.

But *Israel will become strong.

v19 *Israel’s king will rule there.

He will kill those people who are alive still in the city.’

Verses 15-19 The beginning of this passage is very similar to the words that Balaam spoke before his third *prophecy (Numbers 24:3-4). But, this time, he spoke about events that would happen a long time in the future.

Balaam *prophesied about a king who would come from *Israel. This king would defeat the *Moabites. The ‘sons of Sheth’ (verse 17) might refer to a *tribe that lived next to the country called Moab. Or it might be another name for the *Moabites.

Also, this king would defeat *Israel’s enemies in the country called Edom. He would destroy them all. Edom was south of Moab.

Most of these *prophecies happened about 300 years later. David, *Israel’s most famous king, ruled after Saul. He was a great military leader. He defeated the people in Edom and in Moab (2 Samuel 8:2 and 8:13-14; 1 Kings 11:15-16).

Some people believe that these *prophecies refer also to the Messiah. The Messiah was the great leader and king that would come in the future. The *Jews believed that the Messiah would defeat all their enemies.

Jesus was the Messiah. He came to save people from the results of their *sins. He did not use military power. But he defeated our enemy, the devil. When he died on the *cross, he took away the power of *sin. When he become alive again, he took away the power of death. And he will return in the future to rule as king.

Balaam’s last *prophecy – Numbers 24:20-25

v20 Then, in his *vision, Balaam saw the country called Amalek.

He *prophesied,

‘Amalek was first among the nations.

But one day in the future, it will not exist.’

v21 Then, in his *vision, Balaam saw the *Kenites.

He *prophesied,

‘You *Kenites! You think that you live in a safe place.

You live in security among the rocks.

v22 But when the country called Assur (Assyria) defeats you,

it will destroy your nation completely.’

v23 Then Balaam spoke this *prophecy.

He said, ‘God has decided to do this.

Nobody can live if God opposes him.

v24 People will sail in ships from the island called Kittim (Cyprus).

These people will defeat the countries called Assur (Assyria) and Eber.

But in the end, God will destroy their nation too.’

v25 Then Balaam stood up. He turned towards his home and he left. Balak left, too.

Verse 20 Balaam finished his *prophecies with these short messages about what would happen to other nations.

Amalek was not the oldest or the most powerful nation in that area. However, it was the first nation to attack *Israel in the *desert (Exodus 17:8-15). After this, the *Amalekites were *Israel’s enemies always. But, in the future, that whole nation would not exist.

Verses 21-22 The *Kenites lived near to the *Amalekites, among the hills south west of the Dead Sea. They were not enemies of *Israel. Hobab, a relative of Moses, was a *Kenite (Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11). The *Kenites felt safe from attack among the hills. But, in the future, an enemy would defeat the *Kenites completely.

Verses 23-24 The country called Assyria would become powerful and rule many nations. In fact, this happened several hundred years later. But Assyria would not rule always. Another enemy would defeat them and it would rule instead. But this enemy would not rule always.

However, the word that we have translated ‘Assyria’ is actually ‘Asshur’. And there was a *tribe called Asshur. This *tribe lived near to the *Kenites. Some experts think that the people from Cyprus were the *Philistines. The *Philistines were one of *Israel’s most fierce enemies. King David defeated the *Philistines (1 Samuel chapter 17; 2 Samuel 5:17-25).

But these details are not important really. Balaam was emphasising that God controls all events on earth. Nations become strong and powerful only if God allows this. God uses rulers and nations for his purposes.

Verse 25 After Balaam had finished his *prophecies, he began his journey home. He was unable to do what Balak had wanted. Balaam could not *curse the nation that God had *blessed.

Although Balaam could not *curse the *Israelites, he had another plan to oppose them. We will read about that plan in chapter 25. Chapter 25 does not mention Balaam. But Numbers 31:16 shows us that this was Balaam’s plan.

prophecy/prophecies ~ words and messages from God.
LORD ~ a special name for God that his people use. In Hebrew, it is Yahweh. This name means something like ‘I am’ or ‘always alive’.

Lord ~ one who rules. God is the Lord who rules everyone.

Hebrew ~ the language of the *Jews.
bless ~ 1. To ask God to do good things for a person or people. 2. God blesses us when he does good things for us. He guards us and he keeps us safe from evil things.
Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.
desert ~ a dry region, or a region where there is just a little water. A few wild plants are able to grow in some deserts. So people who are travelling can live in these deserts in their tents. And they can lead animals through the desert. The Israelites lived in a desert for nearly 40 years.

Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.
spiritual ~ a description of something that belongs to the spirit rather than to physical things.
curse ~ a declaration that something bad will happen. In the early books of the Bible, a curse was a type of prophecy from God. This prophecy described something bad that would happen in the future. To curse means to speak this prophecy.

prophecy/prophecies ~ words and messages from God.
holy ~ what God is like. God’s character: perfect, completely good with nothing bad in it. Separate from sin.

sin ~ the nature of all people since Adam chose not to obey God. People’s lives are not acceptable to God because of sin. ‘Sins’ are states, attitudes and acts that are not acceptable to God. A person sins whenever that person is guilty of a sin.

'Promised Land ~ the country that God promised to give to Abraham and his *descendants.
prophesy ~ to speak or to write God’s words.'prophecy/prophecies ~ words and messages from God.
sin ~ the nature of all people since Adam chose not to obey God. People’s lives are not acceptable to God because of sin. ‘Sins’ are states, attitudes and acts that are not acceptable to God. A person sins whenever that person is guilty of a sin.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that someone has fixed together. The Romans fixed people to a cross in order to execute them. (The Romans were people from the city called Rome. They ruled many countries during Jesus’ life on the earth.) Jesus died on a cross. The cross is now the sign of the *Christian *church.

execute ~ to kill a person legally because they are guilty of a crime.
Philistines ~ a group of people who lived near the south coast of the country called Canaan.