Berean Standard Bible

Numbers 24

1And when Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200thatכִּ֣יkiH3588it pleasedט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤יTov be.'ei.NeiH2895 H5869the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068to blessלְבָרֵ֣ךְle.va.RekhH1288אֶת־'et-H853Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,he did notוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808seekהָלַ֥ךְha.LakhH1980omensנְחָשִׁ֑יםne.cha.ShimH5173as on previous occasionsלִקְרַ֣אתlik.RatH6471 H7122,but he turnedוַיָּ֥שֶׁתvai.Ya.shetH7896his faceפָּנָֽיו׃pa.NavH6440towardאֶל־'el-H413the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֖רha.mid.BarH4057.

2When Balaamבִלְעָ֜םvil.'AmH1109אֶת־'et-H853looked upוַיִּשָּׂ֨א עֵינָ֗יוvai.yi.Sa' 'ei.NavH5375 H5869and sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200אֶת־'et-H853Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478encampedשֹׁכֵ֖ןsho.KhenH7931tribe by tribeלִשְׁבָטָ֑יוlish.va.TavH7626,the Spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430cameוַתְּהִ֥יva.te.HiH1961upon himעָלָ֖יו'a.LavH5921,

3and he lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “This isthe prophecyנְאֻ֤םne.'UmH5002of Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109sonבְּנ֣וֹbe.NoH1121of Beorבְעֹ֔רve.'OrH1160,the prophecyוּנְאֻ֥םu.ne.'UmH5002of a manהַגֶּ֖בֶרha.Ge.verH1397whose eyesהָעָֽיִן׃ha.'A.yinH5869are openשְׁתֻ֥םshe.TumH8365,

4the prophecyנְאֻ֕םne.'UmH5002of one who hearsשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085the wordsאִמְרֵי־'im.rei-H561of Godאֵ֑ל'ElH410,whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834seesיֶֽחֱזֶ֔הye.che.ZehH2372a visionמַחֲזֵ֤הma.cha.ZehH4236from the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙sha.DaiH7706,who bows downנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307with eyesעֵינָֽיִם׃'ei.Na.yimH5869wide openוּגְל֥וּיu.ge.LuiH1540:

5Howמַה־mah-H4100lovely areטֹּ֥בוּTouH2895your tentsאֹהָלֶ֖יךָ'o.ha.Lei.khaH168,O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290,your dwellingsמִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָmish.ke.no.Tei.khaH4908,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478!

6They spread outנִטָּ֔יוּni.Ta.yuH5186like palm grovesכִּנְחָלִ֣יםkin.cha.LimH5158,like gardensכְּגַנֹּ֖תke.ga.NotH1593besideעֲלֵ֣י'a.LeiH5921a streamנָהָ֑רna.HarH5104,like aloesכַּאֲהָלִים֙ka.'a.ha.LimH174the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068has plantedנָטַ֣עna.Ta'H5193,like cedarsכַּאֲרָזִ֖יםka.'a.ra.ZimH730besideעֲלֵי־'a.lei-H5921the watersמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325.

7Waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325will flowיִֽזַּל־yi.zal-H5140from his bucketsמִדָּ֣לְיָ֔וmi.Dal.YavH1805,and his seedוְזַרְע֖וֹve.zar.'OH2233will have abundantרַבִּ֑יםra.BimH7227waterבְּמַ֣יִםbe.Ma.yimH4325.His kingמַלְכּ֔וֹmal.KoH4428will be greaterוְיָרֹ֤םve.ya.RomH7311than Agagמֵֽאֲגַג֙me.'a.GagH90,and his kingdomמַלְכֻתֽוֹ׃mal.khu.ToH4438will be exaltedוְתִנַּשֵּׂ֖אve.tin.na.Se'H5375.

8Godאֵ֚ל'elH410brought himמוֹצִיא֣וֹmo.tzi.'OH3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714with strengthכְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥תke.to.'a.FotH8443like a wild oxרְאֵ֖םre.'EmH7214,to devourיֹאכַ֞לyo.KhalH398hostileצָרָ֗יוtza.RavH6862nationsגּוֹיִ֣םgo.YimH1471and crushיְגָרֵ֖םye.ga.RemH1633their bonesוְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛םve.'atz.mo.tei.HemH6106,to pierce themיִמְחָֽץ׃yim.ChatzH4272with arrowsוְחִצָּ֥יוve.chi.TzavH2671.

9He crouchesכָּרַ֨עka.Ra'H3766,he lies downשָׁכַ֧בsha.KhavH7901like a lionכַּאֲרִ֛יka.'a.RiH738,like a lionessוּכְלָבִ֖יאu.khe.la.Vi'H3833—whoמִ֣יmiH4310dares to rouse himיְקִימֶ֑נּוּye.ki.Me.nuH6965?Blessed areמְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָme.va.ra.Khei.khaH1288those who bless youבָר֔וּךְva.RukhH1288and cursed areוְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָve.'o.re.Rei.khaH779those who curse youאָרֽוּר׃'a.RurH779.”

Balak Dismisses Balaam

10Then Balak’sבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111angerאַ֤ף'afH639burnedוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734againstאֶל־'el-H413Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109,and he struck his handsכַּפָּ֑יוka.PavH3709togetherוַיִּסְפֹּ֖קvai.yis.PokH5606אֶת־'et-H853and saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜קvai.Yo.mer ba.LakH559 H1111toאֶל־'el-H413Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109, “I summoned youקְרָאתִ֔יךָke.ra.Ti.chaH7121to curseלָקֹ֤בla.KoH6895my enemiesאֹֽיְבַי֙'o.ye.VaiH341,but beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009,you have persisted in blessingH1288themtheseזֶ֖הzehH2088threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969timesפְּעָמִֽים׃pe.'a.MimH6471.

11Therefore, fleeבְּרַח־be.rach-H1272at onceוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258toאֶל־'el-H413yourhomeמְקוֹמֶ֑ךָme.ko.Me.chaH4725!I saidאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiH559I would reward you richlyH3513,but insteadוְהִנֵּ֛הve.hi.NehH2009the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068has deniedמְנָעֲךָ֥me.na.'a.KhaH4513your rewardמִכָּבֽוֹד׃mi.ka.VodH3519.”

12Balaamבִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־bil.'Am 'el-H1109 H413answeredוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111, “Did I notהֲלֹ֗אha.Lo'H3808alreadyגַּ֧ם אֶל־gam 'el-H1571 H413tellדִּבַּ֥רְתִּי לֵאמֹֽר׃di.Bar.ti le.MorH1696 H559the messengersמַלְאָכֶ֛יךָmal.'a.Khei.khaH4397אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you sent meשָׁלַ֥חְתָּ אֵלַ֖יsha.Lach.ta 'e.LaiH7971 H413

13that even ifאִם־'im-H518Balakבָלָ֜קva.LakH1111were to giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414mehis houseבֵיתוֹ֮vei.ToH1004fullמְלֹ֣אme.Lo'H4393of silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָב֒ve.za.HavH2091,I couldאוּכַ֗ל'u.KhalH3201notלֹ֣אlo'H3808doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213anything of my own accordמִלִּבִּ֑יmi.li.BiH3820,goodטוֹבָ֛הto.VahH2896orא֥וֹ'oH176badרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451,to go beyondלַעֲבֹר֙la.'a.VorH5674the commandפִּ֣יpiH6310אֶת־'et-H853of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068?I must speakיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696whateverאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068אֹת֥וֹ'o.ToH853saysאֲדַבֵּֽר׃'a.da.BerH1696.

14Nowוְעַתָּ֕ה הִנְנִ֥יve.'a.Tah hi.NiH6258 H2005I am going backהוֹלֵ֖ךְho.LekhH1980to my peopleלְעַמִּ֑יle.'a.MiH5971,but comeלְכָה֙le.KhahH1980,let me warn youאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze.khaH3289whatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834thisהַזֶּ֛הha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971will doיַעֲשֶׂ֜הya.'a.SehH6213to your peopleלְעַמְּךָ֖le.'a.me.KhaH5971in the daysהַיָּמִֽים׃hai.ya.MimH3117to comeבְּאַחֲרִ֥יתbe.'a.cha.RitH319.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15Then Balaam lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “This isthe prophecyנְאֻ֤םne.'UmH5002of Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109sonבְּנ֣וֹbe.NoH1121of Beorבְעֹ֔רve.'OrH1160,the prophecyוּנְאֻ֥םu.ne.'UmH5002of a manהַגֶּ֖בֶרha.Ge.verH1397whose eyesהָעָֽיִן׃ha.'A.yinH5869are openשְׁתֻ֥םshe.TumH8365,

16the prophecyנְאֻ֗םne.'UmH5002of one who hearsשֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙sho.Me.a'H8085the wordsאִמְרֵי־'im.rei-H561of Godאֵ֔ל'ElH410,who has knowledgeוְיֹדֵ֖עַ דַּ֣עַתve.yo.De.a' Da.'atH3045 H1847from the Most Highעֶלְי֑וֹןel.YonH5945,who seesיֶֽחֱזֶ֔הye.che.ZehH2372a visionמַחֲזֵ֤הma.cha.ZehH4236from the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙sha.DaiH7706,who bows downנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307with eyesעֵינָֽיִם׃'ei.Na.yimH5869wide openוּגְל֥וּיu.ge.LuiH1540:

17I see himאֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙'er.'E.nuH7200,but notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808nowעַתָּ֔ה'a.TahH6258;I behold himאֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ'a.shu.Re.nuH7789,but notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808nearקָר֑וֹבka.RovH7138.A starכּוֹכָ֜בko.KhavH3556will come forthדָּרַ֨ךְda.RakhH1869from Jacobמִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗בmi.ya.'a.KoH3290,and a scepterשֵׁ֙בֶט֙she.vetH7626will ariseוְקָ֥םve.KamH6965from Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.He will crushוּמָחַץ֙u.ma.ChatzH4272the skullsפַּאֲתֵ֣יpa.'a.TeiH6285of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124and strike downוְקַרְקַ֖רve.kar.KarH6979allכָּל־kol-H3605the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of ShethH8351.

18Edomאֱד֜וֹם'e.DomH123will becomeוְהָיָ֨הve.ha.YahH1961a possessionיְרֵשָׁ֗הye.re.ShahH3424, asיְרֵשָׁ֛הye.re.ShahH3424willוְהָיָ֧הve.ha.YahH1961Seirשֵׂעִ֖ירse.'IrH8165,his enemyאֹיְבָ֑יו'o.ye.VavH341;but Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478will performעֹ֥שֶׂה'O.sehH6213with valorחָֽיִל׃Cha.yilH2428.

19A ruler will comeוְיֵ֖רְדְּve.Ye.redH7287from Jacobמִֽיַּעֲקֹ֑בmi.ya.'a.KoH3290and destroyוְהֶֽאֱבִ֥ידve.he.'e.VidH6the survivorsשָׂרִ֖ידsa.RidH8300of the cityמֵעִֽיר׃me.'IrH5892.”

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

20Then Balaam sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200אֶת־'et-H853Amalekעֲמָלֵ֔ק'a.ma.LekH6002and lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “Amalekעֲמָלֵ֔ק'a.ma.LekH6002was firstרֵאשִׁ֤יתre.ShitH7225among the nationsגּוֹיִם֙go.YimH1471,but his endוְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ עֲדֵ֥יve.'a.cha.ri.To 'a.DeiH319 H5704isdestructionאֹבֵֽד׃'o.VedH8.”

21Next he sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200אֶת־'et-H853the Kenitesהַקֵּינִ֔יha.kei.NiH7017and lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “Your dwelling placeמֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָmo.sha.Ve.khaH4186is secureאֵיתָן֙'ei.TanH386,and your nestקִנֶּֽךָ׃ki.Ne.chaH7064is setוְשִׂ֥יםve.SimH7760in a cliffבַּסֶּ֖לַעba.Se.la'H5553.

22Yetכִּ֥י אִם־ki 'im-H3588 H518Kainקָ֑יִןKa.yinH7014will beיִהְיֶ֖הyih.YehH1961destroyedלְבָ֣עֵֽרle.Va.'erH1197whenעַד־ מָ֖ה'ad- mahH5704 H4100Asshurאַשּׁ֥וּר'a.ShurH804takes you captiveתִּשְׁבֶּֽךָּ׃tish.Be.kaH7617.”

23Once more Balaam lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “Ahא֕וֹי'oH188,whoמִ֥יmiH4310can liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421unless Godאֵֽל׃'ElH410has ordained itמִשֻּׂמ֥וֹmi.su.MoH7760?

24Shipsוְצִים֙ve.TzimH6716will comefrom the coastsמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027of Cyprusכִּתִּ֔יםki.TimH3794;they will subdueוְעִנּ֥וּve.'i.NuH6031Asshurאַשּׁ֖וּר וְעִנּוּ־'a.Shur ve.'i.nu-H804 H6031and Eberעֵ֑בֶר'E.verH5677,but theyה֖וּאhu'H1931tooוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571will perishאֹבֵֽד׃'o.VedH8foreverעֲדֵ֥י'a.DeiH5704.”

25Then Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965and returnedוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ וַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ye.lekh vai.Ya.shovH1980 H7725to his homelandלִמְקֹמ֑וֹlim.ko.MoH4725,and Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571wentהָלַ֥ךְha.LakhH1980on his wayלְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃ פle.dar.KoH1870.

Balak Dismisses Balaam

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

Balaam’s Final Three Oracles

Commentaries on Numbers 24