Revised Literal Translation

Numbers 24

1And when Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that it pleasedט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤יTov be.'ei.NeiH2895 H5869Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068to blessלְבָרֵ֣ךְle.va.RekhH1288Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,he wentהָלַ֥ךְha.LakhH1980not, as at other timesH6471,to seekH7125for enchantmentsנְחָשִׁ֑יםne.cha.ShimH5173,but he setוַיָּ֥שֶׁתvai.Ya.shetH7896his faceפָּנָֽיו׃pa.NavH6440toward the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֖רha.mid.BarH4057.

2And Balaamבִלְעָ֜םvil.'AmH1109lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֨אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his eyesעֵינָ֗יו'ei.NavH5869,and he sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478abidingשֹׁכֵ֖ןsho.KhenH7931in his tentsaccording to their tribesלִשְׁבָטָ֑יוlish.va.TavH7626;and the spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430came upon him.

3And he took upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his parableמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109the sonבְּנ֣וֹbe.NoH1121of Beorבְעֹ֔רve.'OrH1160hath saidנְאֻ֤םne.'UmH5002,and the manהַגֶּ֖בֶרha.Ge.verH1397whose eyesהָעָֽיִן׃ha.'A.yinH5869are openשְׁתֻ֥םshe.TumH8365hath saidוּנְאֻ֥םu.ne.'UmH5002:

4He hath saidנְאֻ֕םne.'UmH5002,which heardשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085the wordsאִמְרֵי־'im.rei-H561of Godאֵ֑ל'ElH410,which sawיֶֽחֱזֶ֔הye.che.ZehH2372the visionמַחֲזֵ֤הma.cha.ZehH4236of the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙sha.DaiH7706,fallingנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307into a trance,but having his eyesעֵינָֽיִם׃'ei.Na.yimH5869openוּגְל֥וּיu.ge.LuiH1540:

5How goodlyטֹּ֥בוּTouH2895are thy tentsאֹהָלֶ֖יךָ'o.ha.Lei.khaH168,O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290, andthy tabernaclesמִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָmish.ke.no.Tei.khaH4908,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478!

6As the valleysכִּנְחָלִ֣יםkin.cha.LimH5158are they spread forthנִטָּ֔יוּni.Ta.yuH5186,as gardensכְּגַנֹּ֖תke.ga.NotH1593by the river’s sideנָהָ֑רna.HarH5104,as the trees of lign aloesכַּאֲהָלִים֙ka.'a.ha.LimH174which Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068hath plantedנָטַ֣עna.Ta'H5193, andas cedar treesכַּאֲרָזִ֖יםka.'a.ra.ZimH730beside the watersמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325.

7He shall pourH5140the waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325outH5140of his bucketsמִדָּ֣לְיָ֔וmi.Dal.YavH1805,and his seedוְזַרְע֖וֹve.zar.'OH2233shall bein manyרַבִּ֑יםra.BimH7227watersבְּמַ֣יִםbe.Ma.yimH4325,and his kingמַלְכּ֔וֹmal.KoH4428shall be higherוְיָרֹ֤םve.ya.RomH7311than Agagמֵֽאֲגַג֙me.'a.GagH90,and his kingdomמַלְכֻתֽוֹ׃mal.khu.ToH4438shall be exaltedוְתִנַּשֵּׂ֖אve.tin.na.Se'H5375.

8Godאֵ֚ל'elH410brought him forthמוֹצִיא֣וֹmo.tzi.'OH3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714;he hath as it were the strengthכְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥תke.to.'a.FotH8443of an unicornרְאֵ֖םre.'EmH7214:he shall eat upיֹאכַ֞לyo.KhalH398the nationsגּוֹיִ֣םgo.YimH1471his enemiesצָרָ֗יוtza.RavH6862,and shall breakיְגָרֵ֖םye.ga.RemH1633their bonesוְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛םve.'atz.mo.tei.HemH6106,and pierceיִמְחָֽץ׃yim.ChatzH4272themthrough with his arrowsוְחִצָּ֥יוve.chi.TzavH2671.

9He couchedכָּרַ֨עka.Ra'H3766,he lay downשָׁכַ֧בsha.KhavH7901as a lionכַּאֲרִ֛יka.'a.RiH738,and as a great lionוּכְלָבִ֖יאu.khe.la.Vi'H3833:who shall stir him upיְקִימֶ֑נּוּye.ki.Me.nuH6965?Blessedמְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָme.va.ra.Khei.khaH1288ishe that blessethבָר֔וּךְva.RukhH1288thee, and cursedוְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָve.'o.re.Rei.khaH779ishe that cursethאָרֽוּר׃'a.RurH779thee.

10And Balak’sבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111angerאַ֤ף'afH639was kindledוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734against Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109,and he smoteH5606his handsכַּפָּ֑יוka.PavH3709togetherH5606:and Balakבָּלָ֜קba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109,I calledקְרָאתִ֔יךָke.ra.Ti.chaH7121thee to curseלָקֹ֤בla.KoH6895mine enemiesאֹֽיְבַי֙'o.ye.VaiH341,and, behold, thou hast altogetherבֵּרַ֣כְתָּbe.Rakh.taH1288blessedבָרֵ֔ךְva.RekhH1288themthese threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969timesפְּעָמִֽים׃pe.'a.MimH6471.

11Therefore now fleeבְּרַח־be.rach-H1272thou to thy placeמְקוֹמֶ֑ךָme.ko.Me.chaH4725:I thoughtאָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiH559to promoteH3513thee unto greatH3513honourH3513;but, lo, Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068hath kept thee backמְנָעֲךָ֥me.na.'a.KhaH4513from honourמִכָּבֽוֹד׃mi.ka.VodH3519.

12And Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111,Spakeדִּבַּ֥רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696I not also to thy messengersמַלְאָכֶ֛יךָmal.'a.Khei.khaH4397which thou sentestשָׁלַ֥חְתָּsha.Lach.taH7971unto me, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

13If Balakבָלָ֜קva.LakH1111would giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414me his houseבֵיתוֹ֮vei.ToH1004fullמְלֹ֣אme.Lo'H4393of silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָב֒ve.za.HavH2091,I cannotאוּכַ֗ל'u.KhalH3201go beyondלַעֲבֹר֙la.'a.VorH5674the commandmentפִּ֣יpiH6310of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213eithergoodטוֹבָ֛הto.VahH2896or badרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451of mine own mindמִלִּבִּ֑יmi.li.BiH3820; butwhat Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068saithיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696,that will I speakאֲדַבֵּֽר׃'a.da.BerH1696?

14And now, behold, I goH1980unto my peopleלְעַמִּ֑יle.'a.MiH5971:comeH3212therefore, andI will advertiseאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze.khaH3289thee what this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971shall doיַעֲשֶׂ֜הya.'a.SehH6213to thy peopleלְעַמְּךָ֖le.'a.me.KhaH5971in the latterבְּאַחֲרִ֥יתbe.'a.cha.RitH319daysהַיָּמִֽים׃hai.ya.MimH3117.

15And he took upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his parableמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109the sonבְּנ֣וֹbe.NoH1121of Beorבְעֹ֔רve.'OrH1160hath saidנְאֻ֤םne.'UmH5002,and the manהַגֶּ֖בֶרha.Ge.verH1397whose eyesהָעָֽיִן׃ha.'A.yinH5869are openשְׁתֻ֥םshe.TumH8365hath saidוּנְאֻ֥םu.ne.'UmH5002:

16He hath saidנְאֻ֗םne.'UmH5002,which heardשֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙sho.Me.a'H8085the wordsאִמְרֵי־'im.rei-H561of Godאֵ֔ל'ElH410,and knewוְיֹדֵ֖עַve.yo.De.a'H3045the knowledgeדַּ֣עַתDa.'atH1847of the most Highעֶלְי֑וֹןel.YonH5945, whichsawיֶֽחֱזֶ֔הye.che.ZehH2372the visionמַחֲזֵ֤הma.cha.ZehH4236of the Almightyשַׁדַּי֙sha.DaiH7706,fallingנֹפֵ֖לno.FelH5307into a trance,but having his eyesעֵינָֽיִם׃'ei.Na.yimH5869openוּגְל֥וּיu.ge.LuiH1540:

17I shall seeאֶרְאֶ֙נּוּ֙'er.'E.nuH7200him, but not now: I shall beholdאֲשׁוּרֶ֖נּוּ'a.shu.Re.nuH7789him, but not nighקָר֑וֹבka.RovH7138:there shall comeדָּרַ֨ךְda.RakhH1869a Starכּוֹכָ֜בko.KhavH3556out of Jacobמִֽיַּעֲקֹ֗בmi.ya.'a.KoH3290,and a Sceptreשֵׁ֙בֶט֙she.vetH7626shall riseוְקָ֥םve.KamH6965out of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and shall smiteוּמָחַץ֙u.ma.ChatzH4272the cornersפַּאֲתֵ֣יpa.'a.TeiH6285of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,and destroyוְקַרְקַ֖רve.kar.KarH6979all the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of Shethשֵֽׁת׃ShetH8351 H8352.

18And Edomאֱד֜וֹם'e.DomH123shall be a possessionיְרֵשָׁ֗הye.re.ShahH3424,Seirשֵׂעִ֖ירse.'IrH8165also shall be a possessionיְרֵשָׁ֛הye.re.ShahH3424for his enemiesאֹיְבָ֑יו'o.ye.VavH341;and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478shall doעֹ֥שֶׂה'O.sehH6213valiantlyחָֽיִל׃Cha.yilH2428.

19Out of Jacobמִֽיַּעֲקֹ֑בmi.ya.'a.KoH3290shall come he that shall have dominionוְיֵ֖רְדְּve.Ye.redH7287,and shall destroyוְהֶֽאֱבִ֥ידve.he.'e.VidH6him that remainethשָׂרִ֖ידsa.RidH8300of the cityמֵעִֽיר׃me.'IrH5892.

20And when he lookedוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200on Amalekעֲמָלֵ֔ק'a.ma.LekH6002,he took upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his parableמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Amalekעֲמָלֵ֔ק'a.ma.LekH6002wasthe firstרֵאשִׁ֤יתre.ShitH7225of the nationsגּוֹיִם֙go.YimH1471;but his latterוְאַחֲרִית֖וֹve.'a.cha.ri.ToH319end shall bethat he perishאֹבֵֽד׃'o.VedH8for everH5703.

21And he lookedוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200on the Kenitesהַקֵּינִ֔יha.kei.NiH7017,and took upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his parableמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Strongאֵיתָן֙'ei.TanH386is thy dwellingplaceמֽוֹשָׁבֶ֔ךָmo.sha.Ve.khaH4186,and thou puttestוְשִׂ֥יםve.SimH7760thy nestקִנֶּֽךָ׃ki.Ne.chaH7064in a rockבַּסֶּ֖לַעba.Se.la'H5553.

22Nevertheless the Keniteקָ֑יִןKa.yinH7014shallאִם־'im-H518be wastedלְבָ֣עֵֽרle.Va.'erH1197,until Asshurאַשּׁ֥וּר'a.ShurH804shall carry thee away captiveתִּשְׁבֶּֽךָּ׃tish.Be.kaH7617.

23And he took upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his parableמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Alasא֕וֹי'oH188,who shall liveיִחְיֶ֖הyich.YehH2421when Godאֵֽל׃'ElH410doethמִשֻּׂמ֥וֹmi.su.MoH7760this!

24And shipsוְצִים֙ve.TzimH6716shall comefrom the coastמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027of Chittimכִּתִּ֔יםki.TimH3794,and shall afflictוְעִנּ֥וּve.'i.NuH6031Asshurאַשּׁ֖וּר'a.ShurH804,and shall afflictוְעִנּוּ־ve.'i.nu-H6031Eberעֵ֑בֶר'E.verH5677,and he also shall perishאֹבֵֽד׃'o.VedH8for everH5703.

25And Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109rose upוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and wentH3212and returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to his placeלִמְקֹמ֑וֹlim.ko.MoH4725:and Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111also wentH1980his wayלְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃ פle.dar.KoH1870.

Commentaries on Numbers 24