Numbers 24:2

Numbers 24:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Context of Numbers 24:2

1When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before [superstitiously] to seek omens and signs [in the natural world], but he set his face toward the wilderness (desert). And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3He took up his [third] discourse (oracle) and said: “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened [at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God], 4The oracle of one who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,

Numbers 24:2 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: lookH5375
• his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• and he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• abidingשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• according to their tribesשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribeH7626
• and the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Numbers 24:2

• Numbers 23:7Balaam took up his [first] discourse (oracle) and said: “Balak, the king of Moab, has brought me from Aram (Syria), from the mountains of the east, [saying,] ‘Come, curse [the descendants of] Jacob for me; And come, [violently] denounce Israel.’
• Numbers 24:4The oracle of one who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,
• Numbers 22:31Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and lay himself face down.

Commentaries on Numbers 24:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The Spirit of God came upon him - This Divine afflatus he had not expected on the present occasion, but God had not yet declared the whole of his will.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Balaam gazed over the camp of Israel that stretched before him, and allowed the spectacle to work its own influence upon him.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Unlike before, Balaam did not use divination this time (23:3, 15). He already knew that signs and omens could not harm Israel (23:23). So he stopped looking for them. Instead, the Spirit of God came directly upon Balaam. God himself gave Balaam the message to speak.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes--that is, in the orderly distribution of the camp (Nu 2:1-34). the spirit of God came upon him--Before the regular ministry of the prophets was instituted, God made use of various persons as the instruments through whom He revealed His will, and Balaam was one of these (De 23:5).Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 24:2

• Balaam
• Holy Spirit
• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• Balaam
• God
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Advertise
• Coast
• Rise
• Tabernacle

Commentaries on Numbers 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings