Balaam's Third Oracle: How Beautiful Are Your Tents
Study note
This time Balaam did not go off looking for omens but looked directly at the Israelite camp. The Spirit of God came upon him, and he spoke a beautiful blessing describing Israel's camps as spreading valleys, gardens by a river, and tall cedars by the water. He declared that anyone who blesses Israel will be blessed, and anyone who curses Israel will be cursed.
1 By now Balaam understood that the Lord wanted to bless Israel. So instead of going off to look for magical signs as he had done before, he simply turned and faced the wilderness. 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.
2 Looking out, Balaam saw Israel's camp stretched out by tribes. The Spirit of God came upon him. 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.
3 He spoke his prophetic message: "This is the word of Balaam son of Beor, spoken by the man whose eyes see clearly," And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4 "who hears what God says, who receives visions from the Almighty, who falls to the ground in awe with eyes wide open:" 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:
5 "How stunning are your tents, Jacob! How magnificent your camps, Israel!" How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6 "They spread out like green valleys. They are like gardens by a river. They are like sweet-smelling aloe trees the Lord planted. They are like tall cedars next to water." 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.
7 "Water will overflow from their buckets, and their fields will have abundant water. Their king will be mightier than Agag, and their kingdom will rise to greatness." 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.
8 "God brought them out of Egypt with power like a wild ox. They will crush the nations opposing them, snap their bones, and strike them through with arrows." 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.
9 "They crouch like a lion, they lie down like a lioness. Who would dare disturb them? Everyone who blesses them will be blessed, and everyone who curses them will be cursed." 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.
Balak's Anger
Study note
Balak was furious. He struck his hands together in anger and told Balaam to go home. He had called Balaam to curse his enemies, but Balaam had blessed them three times. Balak said the Lord had kept Balaam from getting his reward. Before leaving, Balaam offered one more prophecy about what Israel would do to Moab in the future.
10 Balak exploded with anger at Balaam. He slammed his fists together and shouted, "I brought you here to curse my enemies, and instead you have blessed them three times!" 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.
11 "Get out of here and go home! I promised to pay you a fortune, but the Lord has robbed you of any reward." 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.
12 Balaam responded, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent," And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13 "'Even if Balak filled his palace with silver and gold for me, I cannot go against what the Lord commands, doing anything good or bad on my own. I can only say what the Lord says'?" 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?
14 "I am heading home now. But first, let me warn you about what this nation will do to your people in the future." 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.
Balaam's Fourth Oracle: A Star from Jacob
Study note
Balaam's final major oracle spoke of a future ruler: 'I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel.' This ruler would crush Moab and Edom. Many scholars see this as a prophecy about King David and ultimately about the Messiah.
15 Then Balaam spoke his message from God: "These are the words of Balaam son of Beor. This is spoken by the man whose eyes see clearly." And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
16 "He hears what God says. He has knowledge from the Most High. He gets visions from the Mighty One. He falls to the ground in awe with eyes wide open." 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:
17 "I see him, but not yet. I gaze at him, but he is far away. A star will emerge from Jacob. A royal scepter will rise from Israel. He will crush Moab's forehead and destroy all the people of Sheth." 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.
18 "Edom will be taken over. Seir, its enemy, will be conquered. But Israel will grow in strength and power." And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 "A ruler will come from Jacob and wipe out anyone still surviving in the cities." Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Prophecies Against Other Nations
Study note
Balaam gave brief prophecies about Amalek, the Kenites, Asshur, and others. He predicted Amalek's destruction and the eventual captivity of the Kenites. Then both Balaam and Balak went their separate ways.
20 Balaam looked toward Amalek and said: "Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel. But in the end it will be totally wiped out." 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.
21 He looked toward the Kenites and spoke: "Your home seems safe and secure, like a nest built high on a cliff." 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.
22 "But even the Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur carries you away as captives." Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 He spoke again: "Who will survive when God brings all this about?" And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24 "Ships will come from the coast of Kittim. They will bring trouble to Asshur and to Eber, but they themselves will also be destroyed in the end." And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
25 Then Balaam got up and headed home, and Balak went his own way. And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.