Balaam blesses Israel and speaks of future rule

24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 24:2 When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 24:3 Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; 24:4 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 24:5 ‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel! 24:6 They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river’s side, like aloes that the Lord has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. 24:7 He will pour the water out of his buckets, and their descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted. 24:8 God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows. 24:9 They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you!’” 24:10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! 24:11 So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.” 24:12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 24:13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’? 24:14 And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.” 24:15 Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; 24:16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 24:17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. 24:18 Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. 24:19 A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.’” Balaam’s Final Prophecies 24:20 Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: “Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish.” 24:21 Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle: “Your dwelling place seems strong, and your nest is set on a rocky cliff. 24:22 Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. How long will Asshur take you away captive?” 24:23 Then he uttered this oracle: “O, who will survive when God does this! 24:24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever.” 24:25 Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way. Israel’s Sin with the Moabite Women

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Balaam cannot turn God’s blessing into a curse. Instead, the Spirit of God comes upon him, and he blesses Israel. He speaks of Israel’s beauty, strength, and future rise. He also says that a ruler will come from Jacob and bring judgment on Israel’s enemies, while other nations come under God’s judgment.

Balaam first sees that the Lord is pleased to bless Israel, so he does not seek omens as before. When he looks at Israel, the Spirit of God comes upon him, and he speaks an oracle from God. His words picture Israel as ordered, fruitful, and beautiful. He says Israel will be strong, and that its kingdom will be exalted. He also says that a ruler will rise from Jacob and bring judgment on Moab, Edom, Seir, and other hostile peoples. After that, Balaam speaks judgments over Amalek, the Kenites, Asshur, Eber, and Kittim. These sayings show that God rules over nations and that no human plan can overturn what he has decided.

• God decides whom he will bless, and Balaam cannot reverse that blessing.
• True prophetic speech comes from the Spirit of God, not from human magic or skill.
• God’s people are pictured as fruitful, strong, and secure under his favor.
• The passage looks ahead to a ruler from Jacob who will have royal authority and bring judgment on Israel’s enemies.
• God also judges hostile nations in his time.
• The later nation-oracles are hard to identify in every detail, so they should be read with care.

• Warning: Do not try to use spiritual methods to control God’s will.
• Warning: Hostile powers cannot overturn what the Lord has blessed.
• Warning: Outward blessing does not remove the danger of later sin, which appears in the next chapter.
• Promise: God will keep his word and establish the rule he has spoken.
• Command: Receive God’s word with reverence and do not treat prophecy as a tool for personal gain.

This passage stands in Israel’s wilderness story as the people are about to enter the land. It recalls God’s promise to bless the offspring of Abraham and curse those who curse them. It also points forward to kingship in Israel, especially the royal line that will bring righteous rule. In the wider Bible, the hope for a ruler from Jacob fits the larger story that leads toward the Messiah, though the passage itself first speaks about Israel’s future and its enemies.

Trust that God’s blessing is stronger than human opposition. Do not use religious words or techniques to try to control God. Remember that outward success does not protect anyone from later compromise. Receive God’s word with reverence, and hope in the rule God promises.

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