English Standard Version
Numbers 24:1
1When 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness,
Context of Numbers 24:1
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. 2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, 3and he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
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
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 came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.
- 1 Samuel 10:10When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.
- 1 Samuel 19:20Then 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 15:1The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,
- Matthew 7:22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
- Matthew 10:4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
- John 11:49But one 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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries