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Numbers 24 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Spirit of God Comes Upon Balaam

Num 24:1

And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to [fn]encounter omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Num 24:2And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Num 24:3Then he took up his [fn]discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered;

Num 24:4

The oracle of him who hears the [fn]words of God,

Who beholds the vision of [fn]the Almighty,

Falling down, yet having his eyes opened,

Num 24:5

How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

Num 24:6

“Like [fn]valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens beside the river,

Like aloes planted by Yahweh,

Like cedars beside the waters.

Num 24:7

“Water will flow from his buckets,

And his seed will be by many waters,

And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

Num 24:8

“God brings him out of Egypt,

He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.

He will devour the nations who are his adversaries,

And will gnaw their bones in pieces,

And [fn]shatter them with his arrows.

Num 24:9

“He [fn]crouches, he lies down as a lion,

And as a [fn]lion, who [fn]dares rouse him?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you,

And cursed is everyone who curses you.”

Num 24:10

Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his [fn]hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have blessed them repeatedly these three times!

Num 24:11“So now, [fn]flee to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, Yahweh has held you back from honor.”
Num 24:12And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,
Num 24:13‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything to trespass the [fn]command of Yahweh, either good or bad, of my own [fn]accord. What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak’?
Num 24:14“So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”

Oracle of Balaam

Num 24:15

Then he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered,

Num 24:16

The oracle of him who hears the [fn]words of God,

And knows the knowledge of the [fn]Most High,

Who beholds the vision of the [fn]Almighty,

Falling down, yet having his eyes opened.

Num 24:17

“I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near;

A star shall come forth from Jacob,

A scepter shall rise from Israel,

And shall crush through the [fn]forehead of Moab,

And [fn]tear down all the sons of [fn]Sheth.

Num 24:18

“And Edom shall be a possession,

Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession,

While Israel performs valiantly.

Num 24:19

“And one from Jacob shall have dominion,

And will make the survivor perish from the city.”

Num 24:20

Then he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said,

“Amalek was the first of the nations,

But his end shall be [fn]destruction.”

Num 24:21

Then he looked at the Kenite and took up his discourse and said,

“Your habitation is enduring,

And your nest is set in the cliff.

Num 24:22

“Nevertheless Kain will be consumed;

How long will Asshur [fn]keep you captive?”

Num 24:23

Then he took up his discourse and said,

“Woe, who can live except when God has ordained it?

Num 24:24

“But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim,

And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;

So they also will come to destruction.”

Num 24:25

Then Balaam arose and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.

LSB Footnotes
Or meet, cf. 21:33; 22:34, 36; 23:3
Lit parable, so in ch
Lit sayings
Heb Shaddai
Or possibly palm trees
Or crush, cf. 24:17
Lit bows down
Or lioness
Lit shall
Lit palms
Lit flee for yourself
Lit mouth
Lit heart
Lit sayings
Heb Elyon
Heb Shaddai
Lit corners
Or the skull of the head of
Lit tumult
Lit to destroying
Lit take
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