Bible Commentaries
Numbers 24

Verse 1

24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the {a} wilderness.

(a) Where the Israelites camped.

Verse 3

24:3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes {b} are open hath said:

(b) His eyes were shut up before in respect to the clear visions which he saw after.

Verse 4

24:4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, {c} falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

(c) Though he lay as in a sleep, yet the eyes of his mind were open.

Verse 7

24:7 He shall pour the {d} water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than {e} Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

(d) His prosperity and posterity will be very great.

(e) Which name was common to the kings of Amalek.

Verse 10

24:10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he {f} smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times.

(f) In token of anger.

Verse 11

24:11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the {g} LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

(g) Thus the wicked burden God when they cannot carry out their wicked enterprises.

Verse 14

24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will {h} advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

(h) He gave also wicked counsel to cause the Israelites to sin, that God might forsake them, Numbers 31:16.

Verse 17

24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a {i} Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the {k} corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of {l} Sheth.

(i) Meaning Christ.

(k) That is, the princes.

(l) He shall subdue all that resist: for of Sheth came Noah, and of Noah all the world.

Verse 19

24:19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the {m} city.

(m) Of the Edomites.

Verse 20

24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the {n} first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

(n) The Amalekites first made war against Israel, Numbers 14:45.

Verse 21

24:21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou {o} puttest thy nest in a rock.

(o) Make yourself as strong as you can.

Verse 23

24:23 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?

Verse 24

24:24 And ships [shall come] from the coast of {q} Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and {r} he also shall perish for ever.

(q) The Grecians and Romans.

(r) Meaning, Eber, or the Jews for rebelling against God.