Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam [the prophet from Mesopotamia] saw that it pleased [was good in the eyes of] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] to bless [to praise or honor] Israel [the descendants of Jacob], he did not resort [go, as at other times] to sorcery [divination, enchantments] as on previous occasions [times, beats], but he turned [set] his face [presence] toward [to, in the direction of] the wilderness [the desert, open field]. word study 2 When Balaam [the prophet from Mesopotamia] looked up [lifted his eyes] and saw Israel [the descendants of Jacob] encamped [dwelling, tabernacling] tribe by tribe [according to their tribes, in their tents], the Spirit [breath of life] of God [Elohim, the supreme God] came upon [rushed upon, took control of] him, word study 3 and he lifted up [raised, took up] an oracle [proverb, utterance], saying: “This is the prophecy [declaration, word] of Balaam [the prophet] son of Beor [the father of the prophet], the prophecy [utterance, message] of a man [great man] whose eyes [sight, vision] are open [unveiled, revealed], word study 4 the prophecy [utterance, declaration] of one who hears [listens, obeys] the words [speech, promises] of God [the Almighty, El], who sees [perceives, has a vision] a vision [prophetic dream, revelation] from the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful], who bows down [falls, prostrates] with eyes [sight, understanding] wide open [uncovered, revealed]: word study 5 How [extremely, wonderfully] lovely [goodly, beautiful, pleasing] are your tents [nomadic homes, tabernacles], O Jacob [the son of Isaac, a key figure], your dwellings [places of rest, habitations], O Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]! word study 6 They spread out [like wooded valleys, as gardens] like palm groves [by the river’s side], like gardens [watered and flourishing] beside a stream [river], like aloes [lign-aloes, with perfume and medicinal properties] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has planted [established and nurtured], like cedars [strong and durable trees] beside the waters [a spring or watercourse]. word study 7 Water [flowing abundantly, like a stream] will flow from his buckets [or pails, used for carrying water], and his seed [offspring, descendants] will have abundant water [in many waters]. His king [royal ruler, monarch] will be greater [higher, more exalted] than Agag [the Amalekite king], and his kingdom [royal power, dominion] will be exalted [lifted up, glorified]. word study 8 God [the supreme Almighty] brought him out of Egypt [a land of bondage] with strength [power, might] like a wild ox [a strong, fierce animal], to devour [eat up, consume] hostile nations [enemies, adversaries] and crush [break, shatter] their bones [the very essence of their being], to pierce [wound, smite] them with arrows [sharp, deadly projectiles]. word study 9 He crouches [bends in strength], he lies down [rests in power] like a lion; like a lioness [a fierce and powerful animal], who dares to rouse him [stir him up, awaken him]? Blessed [praised and honored] are those who bless [praise and honor] you and cursed [execrated and wished harm upon] are those who curse [wish harm upon] you.” word study 10 Then Balak’s anger [intense wrath, fury] burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands [palms, fists] together and said to Balaam, “I summoned [called, invited] you to curse [utter a solemn condemnation, speak evil of] my enemies [adversaries, those who oppose me], but behold [look, see], you have persisted [continued, remained steadfast] in blessing [conferring divine favor, speaking well of] them these three [on three occasions, thrice] times. word study 11 Therefore, flee [quickly] at once to your home [place, location]! I said [promised, declared] I would richly reward [honor, greatly esteem] you, but instead the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has denied [withheld, kept back] your reward [payment, honor, glory].” word study 12 Balaam answered [replied to, spoke to] Balak, “Did I not [certainly not, assuredly not] already tell [speak to, communicate with] the messengers [representatives] you sent [dispatched, commissioned] me [toward me, unto me] [saying, speaking] word study 13 that even if Balak [the king of Moab] were to give me his house [palace, dwelling place] full of silver [wealth, riches] and gold [precious treasure], I could not do anything of my own accord [by my own power, according to my own will], good [beneficial, pleasant] or bad [harmful, evil], to go beyond [transgress, disobey] the command [word, instruction] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]? I will speak [declare, proclaim] whatever the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] says [commands, reveals]. word study 14 Now [at this time, behold] I am going back [to walk, to return] to my people [nation, tribe], but come [let us walk, let me advise], let me warn [advise, counsel] you what this people [nation, Amaw] will do [make, act] to your people [nation, tribe] in the days [latter days, future time] to come [in the end, afterwards].” word study 15 Then Balaam [the prophet from Mesopotamia] lifted up [raised, uttered] an oracle [a prophetic utterance, a message from God], saying, “This is the prophecy [declaration, utterance] of Balaam [a man with spiritual insight] son of Beor [the father of a famous prophet], the prophecy [message, revelation] of a man [a great man] whose eyes [the source of spiritual sight, the window to the soul] are open [unveiled, revealed, having spiritual understanding], word study 16 the prophecy [utterance, declaration] of one who hears [listens, obeys] the words [speech, commands] of God [the Most High, Elohim], who has knowledge [understanding, wisdom] from the Most High [the Supreme, Almighty], who sees [perceives, has a vision of] a vision [prophetic dream, revelation] from the Almighty [Shadday, all-powerful], who bows down [falls, prostrates] with eyes [sight, understanding] wide open [uncovered, revealed]: word study 17 I see him [in a prophetic vision], but not now [at this present time]; I behold him [with spiritual eyes], but not near [in close proximity]. A star [a celestial body] will come forth from Jacob [the father of the Israelites], and a scepter [a rod or staff, a sceptre] will arise from Israel [the descendants of Jacob]. He will crush [severely wound, shatter] the skulls [heads, leaders] of Moab [a nation descended from Lot] and strike down [destroy, overthrow] all the sons [descendants, people] of Sheth [Seth, the third son of Adam]. word study 18 Edom [the region of Esau’s descendants] will become a possession [inheritance, owned territory], as will Seir [the mountain and its inhabitants, meaning hairy or shaggy], his enemy [adversary, one who opposes]; but Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] will perform [do, make, accomplish] with valor [strength, might, power, Helech]. word study 19 A ruler [with dominion, having power] will come from Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah] and destroy [perish, utterly defeat] the survivors [remnant, those remaining] of the city [town, a place with a wall].” word study 20 Then Balaam saw [looked upon, gazed at] Amalek [a descendant of Esau, enemy of Israel] and lifted up [raised, proclaimed] an oracle [proverb, prophetic utterance], saying: “Amalek was [is considered] first [chief, primary] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], but his end [latter part, final destiny] is [shall be] destruction [perishing, ruin, being completely undone].” word study 21 Next he saw [looking with spiritual insight] the Kenites [a tribe, the Kenite people-group] and lifted up [raised, proclaimed] an oracle [proverb, wise saying], saying: “Your dwelling place [seat, gathering place, home] is secure [strong, enduring, like a rock], and your nest [safe haven, resting place] is set [placed, established] in a cliff [crag, strong rock, rock of salvation]. word study 22 Yet Kain [the Kenite, a tribe related to Cain] will be destroyed [wasted, burned down] when Asshur [the ancestor of the Assyrians] takes you captive [as a prisoner of war, into exile].” word study 23 Once more Balaam lifted up [uttered, took up] an oracle [parable, proverb], saying: “Ah [alas, woe!], who [what person, which one] can live [survive, have life] unless God [the Almighty, divine strength] has ordained [appointed, set in place] it [these things, this fate]? word study 24 Ships [vessels, naval forces] will come from the coasts [borders, shores] of Cyprus [the island of Kittim]; they will subdue [afflict, humble] Asshur [the Assyrians, a powerful nation] and Eber [a descendant of Shem, a people group], but they too [also, even] will perish [be destroyed, come to nothing] forever [for all eternity, perpetually].” word study 25 Then Balaam [the prophet from Mesopotamia] arose [stood up, rose to his feet] and returned [turned back, went back] to his homeland [place, own country], and Balak [the king of Moab] also [too, even] went [walked, traveled] on his way [road, path, journey]. word study