LEB NUM Chapter 24

Balaam Continues to Utter Oracles

24 And Balaam saw that ⌊it pleased⌋[fn] Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go ⌊as other times⌋[fn] ⌊to seek out⌋[fn] sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert. 2 Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.[fn] 3 He ⌊uttered⌋[fn] his oracle and said,

• “The declaration of Balaam son Beor,
  • the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,
• 4 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[fn]
  • who sees the revelation of Shaddai,[fn]
• falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
  • 5 How good are your tents, O Jacob,
• your dwellings, O Israel!
  • 6 They are spread out like valleys,
• like gardens on a river,
  • like aloes planted by Yahweh,
• like cedars at the waters.
  • 7 He will pour water from his buckets,
• and his offspring will be like many waters;
  • his king will be higher than Agag,
• and his kingdom will be exalted.
  • 8 God, who brings him out from Egypt,
• is like the strength[fn] of a wild ox for him.
  • He will devour the nations who are his enemies;
• he will break their bones;
  • he will pierce them with his arrows.
• 9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion,
  • and like a lioness, who will rouse him?
• They who bless you will be blessed,
  • and they who curse you will be cursed.”

10 Then ⌊Balak became angry with⌋[fn] Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times. 11 ⌊Flee⌋[fn] to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond ⌊the command of Yahweh⌋[fn] to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak’?[fn] 14 And now, look, I am about to go to my people; I will advise you what this people will do to your people ⌊in the following days⌋.”[fn]

15 And he ⌊uttered⌋[fn] his oracle and said,

• “The declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
  • and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed,
• 16 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[fn]
  • and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High,
• who sees the vision of Shaddai,[fn]
  • who is falling, and his eyes are revealed.
• 17 I see him, but not now;
  • I behold him, but not near;
• a star will go out from Jacob,
  • and a scepter will rise from Israel;
• it will crush the foreheads of Moab
  • and destroy all the children of Seth.
• 18 Edom will be a captive;
  • Seir, its enemies, will be a captive,
• and Israel will be acting courageously .[fn]
  • 19 Someone[fn] from Jacob will rule
• and will destroy a remnant[fn] from the city.”
  • 20 And he looked at Amalek, uttered[fn] his oracle, and said,
• “Amalek is first[fn] of the nations,
  • but his future will be forever ruin.”

21 And he looked at the Kenites,[fn] ⌊uttered⌋[fn] his oracle, and said,

• “Steady is your dwelling place;
  • in the rock is your nest.
• 22 Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned;
  • how long will Asshur keep[fn] you captive?”

23 Again he ⌊uttered⌋[fn] his oracle and said,

• “Woe, who will live when God establishes this?[fn]
  • 24 The ships will come from the hand of the Kittim,
• and they will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;
  • also he will be forever ruin.”

25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.