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

When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

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 11:25And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but did not do so again.
• 1 Samuel 10:10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them.
• 1 Samuel 19:20So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.
• 2 Chronicles 15:1God’s Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded.
• Matthew 7:22On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’
• Matthew 10:4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
• Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.”
• John 11:49Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “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