Numbers 24:1

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

Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, 3and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,

Numbers 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• that it pleasedטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
• that it pleasedעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• to blessבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• he wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• not, as at other timesפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
• to seekקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• for enchantmentsנַ֫חַשׁnachash · divinationH5173
• but he setשִׁיתshîyth · to set: makeH7896
• his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• toward the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057

Cross-references for Numbers 24:1

• Numbers 11:25Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit who was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again.
• 1 Samuel 10:10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully on him, and he prophesied along with them.
• 1 Samuel 19:20he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying.
• 2 Chronicles 15:1The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.
• Matthew 7:22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’
• Matthew 10:4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
• Luke 10:20However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
• John 11:49One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You 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

• God

In the dictionaries

• Balaam
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Advertise
• Coast
• Enchantments
• Rise
• Tabernacle
• Abel-Shittim

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