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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Numbers 24:23,24

NUMBERS—NOTE ON Numbers 24:23 These verses are difficult to interpret. It appears that Balaam predicts the Philistines (Kittim) arriving on the coasts of Canaan. This happened in the twelfth century B.C. They defeated Asshur and Eber before they themselves came to utter destruction at the hands of David. All these prophecies seem to focus on the time of David.

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See also Numbers 24:23,24 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Numbers 24:23. _WHO SHALL LIVE WHEN GOD DOETH THIS!_] There are two senses in which these words may be taken: - 1. That the event is so distant that none then alive could possibly live to see i...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEN GOD DOETH THIS - The eventual carrying away of the allies of Israel by Assyria presented itself to Balaam as the ruin of all peace and safety upon earth. One prediction was howerer, yet wanting,...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE PARABLES OF BALAAM Chapter S 23-24 _ 1. The first parable (Numbers 23:1)_ 2. Balak's surprise and Balaam's answer (Numbers 23:11) 3. At Zophim (Numbers 23:13) 4. The second parable

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THREE APPENDED ORACLES. These additional oracles, relating to other peoples than the Moabites, are probably derived from neither E nor J, but have been inserted by an editor from other sources. NUMBE...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TOOK UP. This is not. fifth parable, but part of the fourth. LIVE. survive....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Balaam's last prophetic message_. This is the most obscure of all the poems. The translation is uncertain, and no historical event is known to which the words can refer. Kittim, derived from Kitti a...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _when God doeth this_ The only rendering which the words will bear is -on account of God appointing him." If Numbers 24:21 were all one poem, as some think, -him" might refer to Asshur, appointed by G...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    H. FINAL BLESSING, AND PROPHECY vv. 10-25 TEXT Numbers 24:10. And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine ene...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE TOOK UP HIS PARABLE, AND SAID, ALAS, WHO SHALL LIVE WHEN GOD DOETH THIS!_ And he took up his parable, and said. [The Septuagint introduces this by: Kai idoon ton Oog , 'and when he looked on...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    24:23 doeth (e-15) Lit. 'establisheth.' See Psalms 89:29 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM (CONTINUED) 1-9. Balaam's Third Utterance....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    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 *Israe

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHEN GOD DOETH THIS. — These words may be rendered, _since_ (or, _from the time that_)_ God sets_ (or, _determines_)_ it_ (or, _this_) — _quando faciet ista Deus_ (Vulgate); or, _because God determine...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁלֹ֖ו וַ יֹּאמַ֑ר אֹ֕וי מִ֥י

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BALAAM'S PARABLES Numbers 22:39, Numbers 24:1 THE scene is now on some mountain of Moab from which the encampment of the Hebrew tribes in the plain of the Jordan is fully visible. At Kiriath-huzoth,...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE MATTER OF BAAL-PEOR Numbers 24:10; Numbers 25:1 THE last oracle of Balaam, as we have it, ventures into far more explicit predictions than the others, and passes beyond the range of Hebrew histor...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE “STAR OUT OF JACOB” Numbers 24:15 When your heart is dismayed because of the hatred and opposition of Satan; the great accuser, turn to this chapter. If he stands up to resist, the Son of God sta...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    From the closing sentences in chapter twenty-three we learn that Balaam was taken to yet another place of vision, from whence he looked on the desert. The Spirit of God came upon him and again he utte...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, (p) who shall live when God doeth this! (p) Some read, Oh who shall not perish when the enemy (that is, Antichrist) shall set himself up as God?...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Things, of which he is about to speak. The time is remote, but very dreadful, when the Assyrians shall be chastised, in their turn, as well as the Greeks and Romans, who shall have destroyed Assur, an...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I connect all that is here said respecting the destruction of the nations by Israel, for the sake of shortness. If the Reader be disposed to search out for the accomplishment of these prophecies, I re...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The successes given to the children of Israel alarmed some of their neighbours, more particularly Moab; and this gives occasion for a striking episode in the history which brought to issue as solemn a...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 22, 23, 24, AND 25. Moab also opposes in vain. Now they are in the plains of Moab, having only Jordan between them and the land of their rest. But had they a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE TOOK UP HIS PARABLE, AND SAID,.... Or delivered another prophecy, having made some little pause: ALAS, WHO SHALL LIVE WHEN GOD DOETH THIS? referring not to what goes before, but to what follow...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! Ver. 23. _Who shall live when, &c._] The Assyrian, that rod of God's wrath, that overflowing scourge, shall take all af...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Alas, who shall live_ How calamitous and miserable will the state of the world be, when the Assyrian, and after him the Chaldean, shall overrun and overturn all these parts of the world! Who will be...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Balaam leauing diuinations, prophesieth the happinesse of Israel. 10 Balak in anger dismisseth him. 15 He prophesieth of the starre of Iacob, and the destruction of some nations. [BALAAM BLESSETH...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And he took up his parable and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! The judgment of God upon the disobedient and idolatrous enemies of His people would be so terrible that men would despair...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Of The Star of Jacob....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S THIRD PROPHECY (vs.1-13) THE BEAUTY OF LIFE At least Balaam had learned by now that the Lord had the unchangeable purpose of blessing Israel, so this time he knew it was useless to seek e...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-25 Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old ti...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    How calamitous and miserable will the state of the world be, when the Assyrian, and after him the Chaldean, shall overrun and overturn all these parts of the world! who will be able to live and keep h...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 24:23 up H5375 (H8799) oracle H4912 said H559 (H8799) Alas H188 live H2421 (H8799) God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    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 w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Balaam foretells prosperity for Israel. CHARACTERS: God, Balaam, Balak. CONCLUSION: Those who oppose God and His people will sooner or later be made to see themselves wretchedly deceived....

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 24:7. _He shall pour the water._ This is a fine prediction of the increase of Jacob's seed, and of the temporal blessings which should fall to their lot. Agag, a perpetual name assumed by the...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Numbers 24:1. _To seek for enchantments_. See Notes on Numbers 23:3; Numbers 23:23. _He set his face toward the wilderness, i.e._, towards the plains of Moab, where the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    NUMBERS 24:1 AS AT OTHER TIMES, or, "as (he had done) time after time." SEPTUAGINT, κατὰ τὸ εἰωθός. TO SEEK FOR ENCHANTMENTS. Rather, "for the meeting with aunties." לִקְמראת נְחַשִׁים. Septuagint...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn't even go up, as the other times before the LORD, [to seek the face or] to seek for enchantments, but he just set his face towards...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 5:1; Malachi 3:2; Numbers 23:23...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Who shall live — How calamitous and miserable will the state of the world be, when the Assyrian, and after him the Chaldean, shall over — turn all these parts of the world? Who will be able to keep hi...

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