The Fourth Book of Moses: Numbers

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- Chapter 24 -

Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israelite people, not curse them. So he did not use magic like a shaman would do to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.

He saw the Israelite people camped there in their tents, with each tribe gathered in one group. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,

and this is the prophetic message that he gave to Balak: “I, Balaam son of Beor, am giving this prophecy. This prophecy that I speak is as a man who sees what will happen in the future clearly speaks.

I hear this message from God. I see a vision from the one who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.

You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful! The places where you live are lovely!

Your tents are spread out in front of me like groves of palm trees in valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees that Yahweh has planted, like strong cedar trees that grow along the rivers.

Your water buckets will always be full. The seeds that you plant will always have plenty of water to make them grow. The Israelites’ king will be greater than King Agag. The kingdom that he rules will be honored.

God brought them out of Egypt, leading them along with his great power that is like a wild ox. God devastates all the nations that oppose him. He breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them with his arrows.

The Israelites are like lions that crouch and lie down, ready to spring on their prey, like lionesses that are resting. No one would dare to arouse them! God will bless everyone who blesses you Israelites, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he shouted, saying, “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times!

So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money if you cursed them, but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”

Balaam said to Balak, “Do you not remember what I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,

‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good that he does not approve of.’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.

So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

Then Balaam said this to Balak: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy. This prophecy that I speak is again as a man who sees what will happen in the future clearly speaks.

I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has revealed to me. I see a vision from the one who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.

The things that I see in the vision are not going to happen now. I see things that God will cause to happen in the future. A man who is a descendant of Jacob will appear like a star; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israelite people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.

The Israelites will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies who live near Mount Seir. The Israelite people will be victorious.

A ruler will come who is a descendant of Jacob. He will get rid of the people who still live in the city where Balaam first met Balak.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people group lived, and he prophesied this, “The Amalek people group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”

Then he looked out over the area where the Kenite people group lived, and he prophesied this, “You think that the place where you live is secure like a nest that is made in the cliffs,

but you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”

Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, who can survive when God does all these things?

Ships will come from the Island of Cyprus, and the men in those ships will defeat the armies of Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”

Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:

How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!

As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.

Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.

God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.

He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”

Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’?

Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;

he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:

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, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.

Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.”

He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.

Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”

He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?

But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”

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