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Numbers 24:5
Verse
Context
Balaam’s Third Oracle
4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! 6They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
Sermons
Keith Simons
George Warnock
Arno Clemens Gaebelein Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob! thy dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys are they spread out, like gardens by the stream, like aloes which Jehovah has planted, like cedars by the waters. Water will flow out of his buckets, and his seed is by many waters. And loftier than Agag be his king, and his kingdom will be exalted." What Balaam had seen before his ecstasy with his bodily eyes, formed the substratum for his inward vision, in which the dwellings of Israel came before his mental eye adorned with the richest blessing from the Lord. The description starts, it is true, from the time then present, but it embraces the whole future of Israel. In the blessed land of Canaan the dwellings of Israel will spread out like valleys. נחלים does not mean brooks here, but valleys watered by brooks. נטּה, to extend oneself, to stretch or spread out far and wide. Yea, "like gardens by the stream," which are still more lovely than the grassy and flowery valleys with brooks. This thought is carried out still further in the two following figures. אהלים are aloe-trees, which grow in the East Indies, in Siam, in Cochin China, and upon the Moluccas, and from which the aloe-wood was obtained, that was so highly valued in the preparation of incense, on account of its fragrance. As the aloes were valued for their fragrant smell, so the cedars were valued on account of their lofty and luxuriant growth, and the durability of their wood. The predicate, "which Jehovah hath planted," corresponds, so far as the actual meaning is concerned, to מים עלי, "by water;" for this was "an expression used to designate trees that, on account of their peculiar excellence, were superior to ordinary trees" (Calvin; cf. Psa 104:16).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
How goodly are thy tents, . . . O Israel!--a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular area of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel extended over the subjacent plains.
John Gill Bible Commentary
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and agreeable: and thy tabernacles, O Israel; which is the same thing in other words, and which may be applied figuratively to the church of God, which often goes by the names of Jacob and Israel; and agrees with particular congregations and assemblies of saints, where they dwell as in tents in a movable state, like pilgrims and sojourners; and which are the dwelling places of Father, Son, and Spirit, and of the people of God with one another; and are goodly, pleasant, and delightful, because of the presence of God with them, and on account of the provisions there made for them, and the company they there enjoy; see Psa 84:1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
24:5-6 God’s love for his people was reflected in the blessings he showered upon them.
Numbers 24:5
Balaam’s Third Oracle
4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! 6They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 21 Psalm 84
By Keith Simons4525:05Trust in God's ProvisionKJV BibleLonging for God's PresenceNUM 24:5PSA 37:4PSA 84:1ISA 40:31JAS 1:17Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 84, emphasizing the deep longing for God's presence and the joy found in worshiping Him. He explains the significance of the tabernacles and the journey to Jerusalem, illustrating how even in difficult times, those who seek God find strength and blessings. The psalmist expresses a desire to be close to God, valuing even a single day in His courts over a thousand elsewhere. Simons highlights God's provision and protection for those who walk uprightly, concluding with the assurance that true happiness comes from trusting in the Lord.
The General Plan of the Tabernacle
By George Warnock0Identity in ChristGod's PresenceEXO 19:6NUM 23:9NUM 24:5MAL 4:2ROM 10:17PHP 3:121PE 2:9George Warnock emphasizes the significance of the Tabernacle as the dwelling place of God among His people, illustrating how it symbolizes a new beginning and a holy nation set apart. He reflects on the disobedience and discouragement of the Israelites despite God's glory surrounding them, contrasting their covenant with the life-giving covenant available through Christ. Warnock urges believers to embrace their identity as a royal priesthood and to pursue the fullness of God's promises, emphasizing the importance of faith and the Word of God in experiencing His glory. He calls for spiritual awakening, encouraging the congregation to remove barriers of unbelief and to walk in the light of God's truth. Ultimately, he reminds them that true communion with God is available to all who seek Him wholeheartedly.
The Blessings of the Coming Age
By Arno Clemens Gaebelein0NUM 24:5PSA 46:4ISA 11:6ISA 60:19ISA 65:25ZEC 8:12ROM 8:19REV 20:4Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches about the glorious blessings promised in the coming age of the kingdom, the millennium, as revealed in the prophetic Word. He emphasizes the true description of the golden age found only in the Word of God, contrasting it with the spiritualized teachings of Christendom. Gaebelein clarifies that the millennium is not for the church but for Israel, the nations, and creation, with a focus on the blessings and restoration of Israel as God's firstborn Son and the leader of nations. He delves into numerous prophecies from Psalms, Isaiah, Zechariah, and other prophets, painting a vivid picture of the peace, worship, and prosperity that will characterize the millennial kingdom.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"How beautiful are thy tents, O Jacob! thy dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys are they spread out, like gardens by the stream, like aloes which Jehovah has planted, like cedars by the waters. Water will flow out of his buckets, and his seed is by many waters. And loftier than Agag be his king, and his kingdom will be exalted." What Balaam had seen before his ecstasy with his bodily eyes, formed the substratum for his inward vision, in which the dwellings of Israel came before his mental eye adorned with the richest blessing from the Lord. The description starts, it is true, from the time then present, but it embraces the whole future of Israel. In the blessed land of Canaan the dwellings of Israel will spread out like valleys. נחלים does not mean brooks here, but valleys watered by brooks. נטּה, to extend oneself, to stretch or spread out far and wide. Yea, "like gardens by the stream," which are still more lovely than the grassy and flowery valleys with brooks. This thought is carried out still further in the two following figures. אהלים are aloe-trees, which grow in the East Indies, in Siam, in Cochin China, and upon the Moluccas, and from which the aloe-wood was obtained, that was so highly valued in the preparation of incense, on account of its fragrance. As the aloes were valued for their fragrant smell, so the cedars were valued on account of their lofty and luxuriant growth, and the durability of their wood. The predicate, "which Jehovah hath planted," corresponds, so far as the actual meaning is concerned, to מים עלי, "by water;" for this was "an expression used to designate trees that, on account of their peculiar excellence, were superior to ordinary trees" (Calvin; cf. Psa 104:16).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
How goodly are thy tents, . . . O Israel!--a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular area of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel extended over the subjacent plains.
John Gill Bible Commentary
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and agreeable: and thy tabernacles, O Israel; which is the same thing in other words, and which may be applied figuratively to the church of God, which often goes by the names of Jacob and Israel; and agrees with particular congregations and assemblies of saints, where they dwell as in tents in a movable state, like pilgrims and sojourners; and which are the dwelling places of Father, Son, and Spirit, and of the people of God with one another; and are goodly, pleasant, and delightful, because of the presence of God with them, and on account of the provisions there made for them, and the company they there enjoy; see Psa 84:1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
24:5-6 God’s love for his people was reflected in the blessings he showered upon them.