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Numbers 24
1599 Geneva Bible
Numbers 24
1599 Geneva Bible
24 5 Balaam prophesieth of the great prosperity that should come unto Israel. 17 Also of the coming of Christ. 20 The destruction of the Amalekites, and of the Kenites.
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, then he went not, (A)as certain times before, to set divinations, but set his face toward the [a]wilderness.
2 And Balaam lift up his eyes, and looked upon Israel, which dwelt according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him,
3 (B)And he uttered his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes [b]were shut up, hath said,
4 He hath said which heard the words of God, and saw the vision of the Almighty, and [c]falling in a trance had his eyes opened:
5 ¶ How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thine habitations, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they stretched forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the [d]aloe trees, which the Lord hath planted, as the cedars beside the waters.
7 The [e]water droppeth out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his King shall be higher than [f]Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him out of Egypt: his strength shall be as an unicorn: he shall eat the nations his enemies, and bruise their bones, and shoot them through with his arrows.
9 (C)He coucheth, and lieth down as a young Lion, and as a Lion: Who shall stir him up? blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
10 Then Balak was very angry with Balaam, and [g]smote his hands together: so Balak said unto Balaam, I sent for thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them now three times.
11 Therefore now flee unto thy place: I thought surely to promote thee unto honor, but lo, the [h]Lord hath kept thee back from honor.
12 Then Balaam answered Balak, Told I not also thy messengers, which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot pass the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind? what the Lord shall command, that same will I speak.
14 And now behold, I go unto my people: come, I will [i][j]advertise thee what this people shall do to thy folk in the latter days.
15 And he uttered his parable, and said Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes were shut up hath said,
16 He hath said that heard the words of God, and hath the knowledge of the most High, and saw the vision of the Almighty, and falling in a trance had his eyes opened:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a [k]Star of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise of Israel and shall smite the [l]coasts of Moab, and destroy all the sons of [m]Sheth.
18 And Edom shall be possessed, and Seir shall be a possession to their enemies: but Israel shall do valiantly.
19 He also that shall have dominion shall be of Jacob, and shall destroy the remnant of the [n]city.
20 ¶ And when he looked on Amalek, he uttered his parable, and said, Amalek was the [o]first of the nations: but his latter end shall come to destruction.
21 And he looked on the [p]Kenites, and uttered his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling place, and [q]put thy nest in the rock:
22 Nevertheless, [r]the Kenite shall be spoiled, until Asshur carry thee away captive.
23 Again he uttered his parable, and said, Alas, [s]who shall live when God doeth this?
24 The ships also shall come from the coasts of [t]Kittim, and subdue Asshur, and shall subdue Eber, and [u]he also shall come to destruction.
25 Then Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:1 Where the Israelites camped.
- Numbers 24:3 His eyes were shut up before in respect of the clear visions which he saw after: some read, were open.
- Numbers 24:4 Though he lay as in a sleep, yet the eyes of his mind were open.
- Numbers 24:6 Or, tents.
- Numbers 24:7 His prosperity and posterity shall be very great.
- Numbers 24:7 Which name was common to the kings of Amalek.
- Numbers 24:10 In token of anger.
- Numbers 24:11 Thus the wicked burden God when they cannot compass their wicked enterprises.
- Numbers 24:14 Hebrew, counsel.
- Numbers 24:14 He gave also wicked counsel to cause the Israelites to sin, that thereby God might forsake them, Num. 31:16.
- Numbers 24:17 Meaning, Christ.
- Numbers 24:17 That is, the princes.
- Numbers 24:17 He shall subdue all that resist: for of Sheth came Noah, and of Noah all the world.
- Numbers 24:19 Of the Edomites.
- Numbers 24:20 The Amalekites first made war against Israel, as Num. 14:45.
- Numbers 24:21 Or, Midianites.
- Numbers 24:21 Make thyself as strong as thou canst.
- Numbers 24:22 Or, thou Kain shalt.
- Numbers 24:23 Some read, Oh who shall not perish when the enemy that is, Antichrist, shall set himself up as God?
- Numbers 24:24 The Grecians and Romans.
- Numbers 24:24 Meaning, Eber, or the Jews for rebelling against God.
Numbers 24
New International Version
Numbers 24
New International Version
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(A) he did not resort to divination(B) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(C) 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(D) 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(E)
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(F)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a](G)
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents,(H) Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,(I)
like aloes(J) planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.(K)
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;(N)
with their arrows they pierce them.(O)
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness(P)—who dares to rouse them?
10 Then Balak’s anger burned(S) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(T) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(U) but you have blessed them(V) these three times.(W) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(X) I said I would reward you handsomely,(Y) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,(Z) 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord(AA)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?(AB) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”(AC)
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(AD) of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,(AE)
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.(AF)
A star will come out of Jacob;(AG)
a scepter will rise out of Israel.(AH)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(AI)
the skulls[b](AJ) of[c] all the people of Sheth.[d]
18 Edom(AK) will be conquered;
Seir,(AL) his enemy, will be conquered,(AM)
but Israel(AN) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(AO)
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Fifth Message
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(AP) and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”(AQ)
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites(AR) and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,(AS)
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur(AT) takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[e]
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(AU)
they will subdue Ashur(AV) and Eber,(AW)
but they too will come to ruin.(AX)”
25 Then Balaam(AY) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
- Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
- Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
- Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
- Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.
Numbers 24
English Standard Version
Numbers 24
English Standard Version
Balaam's Third Oracle
24 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at (A)other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel (B)camping tribe by tribe. And (C)the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he (D)took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,[a]
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(E)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves[b] that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
(F)like aloes (G)that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be (H)in many waters;
his king shall be higher than (I)Agag,
and (J)his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the (K)horns of the wild ox;
he shall (L)eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall (M)break their bones in pieces
and (N)pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and (O)like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
(P)Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he (Q)struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, (R)“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, (S)‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 (T)‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad (U)of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, (V)I will let you know what this people will do to your people (W)in the latter days.”
Balaam's Final Oracle
15 (X)And he took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of (Y)the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
(Z)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 (AA)I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
(AB)a star shall come out of Jacob,
and (AC)a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall (AD)crush the forehead[c] of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 (AE)Edom shall be dispossessed;
(AF)Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”
20 Then he looked on Amalek and (AG)took up his discourse and said,
“Amalek was the first among the nations,
(AH)but its end is utter destruction.”
21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,
“Enduring is your dwelling place,
and your nest is set in the rock.
22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
23 And he took up his discourse and said,
“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from (AI)Kittim
and shall afflict Asshur and (AJ)Eber;
and he too (AK)shall come to utter destruction.”
25 Then Balaam rose and (AL)went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:3 Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15
- Numbers 24:6 Or valleys
- Numbers 24:17 Hebrew corners [of the head]
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.