Balaam’s Fifth Message

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

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

Balaam’s Sixth Message

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

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

Balaam’s Seventh Message

23 Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[a]
24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(F)
they will subdue Ashur(G) and Eber,(H)
    but they too will come to ruin.(I)

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.

20     And he looked at Amalek, uttered[a] his oracle, and said,
“Amalek is first[b] of the nations,
    but his future will be forever ruin.”

21 And he looked at the Kenites,[c] uttered[d] his oracle, and said,

“Steady is your dwelling place;
    in the rock is your nest.
22 Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned;
    how long will Asshur keep[e] you captive?”

23 Again he uttered[f] his oracle and said,

“Woe, who will live when God establishes this?[g]
24     The ships will come from the hand of the Kittim,
and they will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;
    also he will be forever ruin.”

25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:20 Literally “lifted up”
  2. Numbers 24:20 Or “among”
  3. Numbers 24:21 Hebrew “Kenite”
  4. Numbers 24:21 Literally “lifted up”
  5. Numbers 24:22 Hebrew “take”
  6. Numbers 24:23 Literally “lifted up”
  7. Numbers 24:23 Hebrew “it”