Numbers 24:2

Numbers 24:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
• New International Version (NIV)When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Context of Numbers 24:2

1When 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. Lifting 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, 4the oracle of one hearing God’s speech, one seeing Shaddai’s vision, one fallen down, yet with open eyes:

Numbers 24:2 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
• lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: lookH5375
• his eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• and he sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• abidingשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
• according to their tribesשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribeH7626
• and the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Numbers 24:2

• Numbers 23:7Then he uttered his oracle and said, “From Aram, Balak brought me, Moab’s king from the mountains of the east: ‘Come! Curse Jacob for me! ‘Come! Denounce Israel!’
• Numbers 24:4the oracle of one hearing God’s speech, one seeing Shaddai’s vision, one fallen down, yet with open eyes:
• Numbers 22:31Then Adonai opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Adonai standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. So he fell on his face.

Commentaries on Numbers 24:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The Spirit of God came upon him - This Divine afflatus he had not expected on the present occasion, but God had not yet declared the whole of his will.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Balaam gazed over the camp of Israel that stretched before him, and allowed the spectacle to work its own influence upon him.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. 22. he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes--that is, in the orderly distribution of the camp (Nu 2:1-34). the spirit of God came upon him--Before the regular ministry of the prophets was instituted, God made use of various persons as the instruments through whom He revealed His will, and Balaam was one of these (De 23:5).Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 24:2

• Balaam
• Holy Spirit
• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• Balaam
• God
• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Advertise
• Coast
• Rise
• Tabernacle

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