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Numbers 24

1Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go to seek omens as he had before. He turned his face toward the wilderness. 2Balaam lifted his eyes and saw Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him. 3He took up his oracle and said, “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 4the oracle of one who hears the words of El, who sees a vision of Shaddai, falling down with eyes uncovered: 5How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel! 6Like valleys they stretch out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes Yahweh planted, like cedars beside water. 7Water flows from his buckets, and his seed has abundant water. His king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8El brings him out of Egypt; he has strength like the towering horns of a wild ox. He devours the nations who oppose him, gnaws their bones, and shatters them with his arrows. 9He crouches and lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who will rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you!”

10Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! 11Now flee to your own place! I said I would certainly honor you, but look, Yahweh has kept you from honor.” 12Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell the messengers you sent to me, 13‘Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's command to do good or evil of my own choosing. What Yahweh says, that I will speak’? 14Now look, I am going to my people. Come, I will tell you what this people will do to your people in days to come.” 15He took up his oracle and said, “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 16the oracle of one who hears the words of El and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision of Shaddai, falling down with eyes uncovered: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star marches forth from Jacob, and a scepter rises from Israel. He will crush the temples of Moab and devastate all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, and Seir, his enemy, will become a possession, while Israel acts with strength. 19One from Jacob will rule and destroy the survivors from the city.”

20He saw Amalek, took up his oracle, and said, “Amalek was first among nations, but its end will be utter destruction.” 21He saw the Kenites, took up his oracle, and said, “Your dwelling is enduring, and your nest is set in the rock. 22Yet Kain will be consumed. How long until Asshur carries you captive?” 23He took up his oracle and said, “Alas! Who will live when El brings this about? 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, but they too will come to utter destruction.” 25Balaam rose and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way.

Translation notes 5

24:3–4 — Eye; divine titles. The rare expression “whose eye is opened” is uncertain; “whose eye is shut” is also possible. The next line explicitly speaks of uncovered eyes, but does not specify a trance or sleep. El, Shaddai, and the Most High are distinct Hebrew divine designations in these oracles. Shaddai is traditionally rendered “Almighty,” though its derivation and precise force remain disputed.

24:6–8 — Plants; water; arrows. The plant called “aloes” is uncertain; an aromatic tree is commonly understood. “His seed” can evoke both descendants and agricultural abundance; the draft preserves the image rather than selecting only one. “Agag” remains the name in the Hebrew base and is not silently changed to “Gog.” The final line of verse 8 is compressed; “them with” supplies the relation between shattering and arrows.

24:14–19 — Days to come; star. “Days to come” is the Hebrew expression often translated “latter days”; it does not by itself assign a precise timetable. Star and scepter present royal imagery. The draft keeps the oracle's language without inserting the name of a later king or identifying its complete fulfillment. “Sons of Sheth” is retained as a name; “sons of tumult” and a connection with Seth are disputed alternatives. The verb before that phrase is also difficult, and “the skulls of” rests on a different reading. “The city” in verse 19 may instead be a place named Ir.

24:20–22 — First; nest; captivity. “First among nations” can indicate prominence rather than earliest origin. The Kenites and their “nest” form a Hebrew soundplay; Kain is the related name in the next verse. Its syntax is difficult. Asshur may name Assyria or a different group; the draft retains the name and does not assign an empire without qualification.

24:23–24 — Kittim and Eber. These brief oracles are obscure. Kittim is associated with Cyprus and can refer more broadly to western seafarers. Eber is retained as a name. The final singular pronoun may refer to a collective aggressor; “they too” expresses that collective sense. The draft retains the base's sequence without reconstructing a lost line or identifying a particular later fleet.