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Balaam’s Final Message

15 Then Balaam gave this message:

“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor.
    This is the message of a man who sees clearly.
16 This is the message of a man who hears the words of God.
    I know the Most High God.
I see a vision from the All-Powerful One.
    My eyes are open as I fall before him.
17 I see someone who will come some day.
    I see someone who will come, but not soon.
A star will come from Jacob.
    A ruler will rise from Israel.
He will crush the heads of the Moabites.
    He will smash the skulls of the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom will be conquered.
    His enemy Edom will be conquered.
    But Israel will grow wealthy.
19 The descendants of Jacob will beat them down.
    The Israelites will destroy those left in the city.”

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and gave this message:

“Amalek was the most important nation.
    But Amalek will be destroyed at last.”

21 Then Balaam saw the Kenites and gave this message:

“Your home is safe.
    It is like a nest on a cliff.
22 But you Kenites will be burned up.
    Assyria will keep you captive.”

23 Then Balaam gave this message:

“No one can live when God does this.
24     Ships will sail from the shores of Cyprus.
They will defeat Assyria and Eber.
    But they will also be destroyed.”

25 Then Balaam got up and returned home. Balak also went on his way.

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Balaam’s Fourth Message

15 Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(A) of God,
    who has knowledge from the Most High,(B)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17 “I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near.(C)
A star will come out of Jacob;(D)
    a scepter will rise out of Israel.(E)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(F)
    the skulls[a](G) of[b] all the people of Sheth.[c]
18 Edom(H) will be conquered;
    Seir,(I) his enemy, will be conquered,(J)
    but Israel(K) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(L)
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(M) and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”(N)

Balaam’s Sixth Message

21 Then he saw the Kenites(O) and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,(P)
    your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
    when Ashur(Q) takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

23 Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[d]
24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(R)
they will subdue Ashur(S) and Eber,(T)
    but they too will come to ruin.(U)

25 Then Balaam(V) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  2. Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
  3. Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
  4. Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.