Numbers 24:1-25 - Balaam Continues To Utter Oracles

¹ Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. ² When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him, ³ and he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
⁴ the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
⁵ How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel.
⁶ They stretch out like river valleys,
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the water.
⁷ Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
⁸ God brought him out of Egypt;
He is like the horns of a wild ox for them.
He will feed on enemy nations
and gnaw their bones;
he will strike them with his arrows.
⁹ He crouches, he lies down like a lion
or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed.

¹⁰ Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”

¹² Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me: ¹³ If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says. ¹⁴ Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

¹⁵ Then he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
¹⁶ the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God
and has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
¹⁷ I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.
He will smash the forehead of Moab
and strike down all the Shethites.
¹⁸ Edom will become a possession;
Seir will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.
¹⁹ One who comes from Jacob will rule;
he will destroy the city’s survivors.

²⁰ Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,
but his future is destruction.

²¹ Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:

Your dwelling place is enduring;
your nest is set in the cliffs.
²² Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.

²³ Once more he proclaimed his poem:

Ah, who can live when God does this?
²⁴ Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;
they will afflict Asshur and Eber,
but they too will come to destruction.

²⁵ Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.