American Standard Version
Numbers 24:1
1And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Numbers 24:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Context of Numbers 24:1
And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;
Read all of Numbers 24Numbers 24:1 word by word
וַיַּ֣רְא בִּלְעָ֗ם כִּ֣י ט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ כְּפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם לִקְרַ֣את נְחָשִׁ֑ים וַיָּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר פָּנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- blessבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- timesפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- setשִׁיתshîyth · to set: makeH7896
- faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
Cross-references for Numbers 24:1
- Numbers 11:25And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
- 1 Samuel 10:10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them.
- 1 Samuel 19:20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
- 2 Chronicles 15:1And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
- Matthew 7:22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?
- Matthew 10:4Simon the Cananæan, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
- John 11:49But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Commentaries on Numbers 24:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1He went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments - We have already had occasion to observe that the proper meaning of the word נחש nachash is not easily ascertained; see Numbers 21:9; (note), and Genesis 3:1; (note). Here the plural נחשים nechashim is rendered enchantments; but it probably means no more than the knowledge of future events. When Balaam saw that it pleased God to bless Israel, he therefore thought it unnecessary to apply for any…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel. (1-9) Balak dismisses Balaam in anger. (10-14) Balaam's prophecies. (15-25) Verses 1-9 Now Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The…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. 1-251. to seek for--that is, to use enchantments. His experience on the two former occasions [Nu 23:3, 15] had taught him that these superstitious accompaniments of his worship were useless, and therefore he now simply looked towards the camp of Israel, either with a secret design to curse them, or to await the divine afflatus.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 24:1
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries