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 realized that it was pleasing in the eyes of Adonai to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorceries as at the other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2Lifting up his eyes, Balaam saw Israel dwelling by tribes. The Ruach Elohim came over him. 3He uttered his oracle and said: “This is the oracle of Balaam son of Beor, and the oracle of a strong man whose eye has been 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 11:25Adonai descended in the cloud and spoke with him. He took some of the Ruach that was on him and placed it on each of the 70 elders. It so happened that when the Ruach first rested on them, they prophesied—but never again.
• 1 Samuel 10:10When they arrived there, at the hill, behold, a band of prophets did meet him, and suddenly, the Ruach of God overtook him, and subsequently, he prophesied among them.
• 1 Samuel 19:20So Saul sent agents to seize David, but they saw a band of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing and presiding over them. Then the Ruach of God came upon Saul’s agents and they too prophesied.
• 2 Chronicles 15:1The Ruach Elohim came upon Azariah the son of Oded.
• Matthew 7:22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’
• Matthew 10:4Simon the Zealot, and Judah the man from Kriot, the one who also betrayed Him.
• Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been written in the heavens.”
• John 11:49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was kohen gadol that year, said to them, “You know nothing!

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