Numbers 23:27-Numbers 24:14 - Balaam's Third Oracle

²⁷ Again Balak said to Balaam, “Please come. I will take you to another place. Maybe it will be agreeable to God that you can put a curse on them for me there.” ²⁸ So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.

²⁹ Balaam told Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”

³⁰ So Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

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.”