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Numbers 24

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Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Numbers 24 Overview

Numbers 24 records Balaam’s final major oracles. Realizing that enchantments cannot alter God’s purpose, Balaam looks upon Israel and the Spirit of God comes upon him. He blesses Israel’s beauty and strength, repeats Abrahamic blessing language, and then gives a far-reaching prophecy of a Star coming out of Jacob and a Sceptre rising out of Israel. Additional oracles concern Moab, Edom, Amalek, the Kenites, and future powers. Balaam and Balak finally separate without the desired curse.

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Before you read Numbers 24

Coming from

Numbers 23 recorded two failed attempts by Balak to obtain a curse.

In this chapter

Balaam gives further Spirit-directed oracles, including the Star and Sceptre prophecy, and announces judgment on several nations.

Leads into

Numbers 25 shows that although Balaam could not curse Israel, Israel can still bring judgment on itself through idolatry and sexual sin.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Balaam now stops seeking enchantments and speaks further oracles as the Spirit of God comes upon him. The Star and Sceptre language points to a future ruler arising from Israel who defeats hostile nations. The oracle has a genuine royal horizon in Israel's history and also feeds the larger biblical expectation of the coming King, but the chapter does not itself spell out every stage of fulfillment. Later Scripture is explicit about Balaam's corrupt counsel at Peor, so his inspired words here should never be mistaken for evidence that his character was faithful.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God’s Spirit can compel true prophecy through a morally compromised man.

Truth 2

Israel’s future includes royal victory pictured by the Star and Sceptre.

Truth 3

Abrahamic blessing and cursing language is repeated over Israel.

Truth 4

Human schemes cannot overturn God’s declared covenant purpose.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Genesis 49:10 gives Judah's sceptre promise, providing important royal background for the Sceptre rising from Israel.

Connection 2

2 Samuel 8:2 records David's later subduing of Moab, an important historical expression of Israelite royal victory over the nation named in Balaam's oracle.

Connection 3

Numbers 31:16 later reveals Balaam's role in counsel that helped lead Israel into sin.

Connection 4

Revelation 2:14 explicitly remembers Balaam teaching Balak to place an idolatrous and immoral stumbling block before Israel.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The Spirit coming upon Balaam does not establish that his character or motives were righteous.

Keep this clear 2

The Star and Sceptre are messianic in the larger biblical royal line, but readers should distinguish the oracle’s immediate national enemies from later fulfillment.

Keep this clear 3

Balaam’s inability to curse Israel does not make Israel immune from discipline for its own sin.

Read Numbers 24 watching for…

The change from seeking enchantments.

The Spirit of God coming upon Balaam.

The Star and Sceptre language.

The list of nations in the closing oracles.

The unresolved moral danger despite prophetic blessing.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-9Balaam’s third prophecy declares Israel blessed 10-14Balak is angry and Balaam again says he can speak only God’s word 15-19Balaam foretells a Star out of Jacob and victory over Moab and Edom 20-24Balaam gives prophecies concerning Amalek, the Kenites, and later powers 25Balaam and Balak depart

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 wilderness.

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

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

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

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 enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

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

And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

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

He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

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

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

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

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

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Numbers 24:13

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