24 Când Balaam a văzut că lui Dumnezeu îi place să-l binecuvânteze pe Israel, n-a mai umblat după farmece ca în celelalte dăţi, ci şi-a întors faţa spre pustie. Ridicându-şi ochii, a văzut pe Israel organizat pe seminţii. Atunci Duhul lui Dumnezeu a venit peste el, iar Balaam a început să rostească oracolul acesta:

Iată rostirea[a] lui Balaam, fiul lui Beor,
    rostirea celui ai cărui ochi sunt deschişi,
rostirea celui care aude spusele lui Dumnezeu,
    care vede o viziune de la Cel Atotputernic[b],
        care este prosternat înaintea Lui şi ai cărui ochi sunt deschişi:

«Ce frumoase sunt corturile tale, Iacove,
    locuinţele tale, Israele!

Se întind ca nişte ueduri[c],
    ca nişte grădini lângă un râu,
ca nişte plante de aloe sădite de Domnul,
    ca nişte cedri lângă ape.
Apa va curge din găleţile lui
    şi sămânţa lui va fi udată de ape mari.

Regele lui va fi mai măreţ decât Agag
    şi regatul lui va fi înălţat.

Dumnezeu l-a scos din Egipt,
    i-a dat tăria unui bivol sălbatic.
Va devora neamurile duşmane,
    le va zdrobi oasele
        şi le va străpunge cu săgeţile lui.
Se ghemuieşte, se întinde ca un leu,
    ca o leoaică – cine va îndrăzni să-l scoale?

Binecuvântat să fie cel care te binecuvântează
    şi blestemat să fie cel care te blestemă!»“

10 Atunci Balak s-a aprins de mânie împotriva lui Balaam. A bătut din palme şi i-a zis lui Balaam:

– Eu te-am chemat ca să-mi blestemi duşmanii, dar tu i-ai binecuvântat de trei ori. 11 Acum fugi, du-te acasă! Am zis că te voi umple de slavă, dar iată că Domnul te-a împiedicat să primeşti slavă.

12 Balaam i-a răspuns lui Balak:

– Nu le-am spus eu oare solilor tăi, pe care i-ai trimis la mine: 13 „Chiar dacă Balak mi-ar da palatul lui plin cu argint şi aur, eu tot n-aş putea să fac nimic de la mine însumi, fie bine, fie rău, dincolo de porunca Domnului, ci voi spune doar ce-mi va zice Domnul. 14 Acum mă întorc la poporul meu, dar vino să te avertizez cu privire la ce va face poporul acesta poporului tău, în zilele care vin.

Al patrulea oracol rostit de Balaam

15 Atunci el şi-a rostit oracolul şi a zis:

Iată rostirea lui Balaam, fiul lui Beor,
    rostirea celui ai cărui ochi sunt deschişi,
16 rostirea celui care aude spusele lui Dumnezeu,
    care are cunoaşterea Celui Preaînalt,
care vede o viziune de la Cel Atotputernic,
    care este prosternat înaintea Lui şi ai cărui ochi sunt deschişi:

17 «Îl văd, dar nu acum,
    îl privesc,
        dar nu de aproape!
O stea răsare din Iacov,
    un sceptru se ridică din Israel.
El va zdrobi căpeteniile[d] Moabului
    şi capetele tuturor[e] fiilor lui Şet[f].
18 Edom va fi cucerit;
    Seir, duşmanul lui, va fi cucerit,
        dar Israel va creşte în putere.
19 Din Iacov va ieşi cel ce va domni
    şi-i va distruge pe supravieţuitorii cetăţii.»“

Alte oracole rostite de Balaam

20 Apoi Balaam l-a văzut pe Amalek şi a rostit următorul oracol:

„Amalek a fost primul dintre popoare,
    dar sfârşitul lui va fi o pieire veşnică.“

21 Când i-a văzut şi pe cheniţi, a rostit următorul oracol:

„Locuinţa vă este sigură
    şi cuibul se află pe o stâncă,
22 dar voi, cheniţilor, veţi fi pustiiţi
    atunci când Asurul[g] vă va lua în captivitate.“

23 După aceea a mai rostit următorul oracol:

„Vai! Cine va mai trăi când Dumnezeu va împlini toate acestea?[h]
24     Nişte corăbii vor veni de pe ţărmul Chitimului[i];
ele vor smeri Asurul şi vor smeri Eberul,
    dar şi el va pieri pentru totdeauna.“

25 Apoi Balaam s-a ridicat şi s-a întors acasă, iar Balak s-a dus la ale lui.

Footnotes

  1. Numeri 24:3 Sau: Iată ce zice Balaam; şi în vs. 4, 15, 16
  2. Numeri 24:4 Ebr.: Şadai; peste tot în carte
  3. Numeri 24:6 Vezi nota de la 21:14
  4. Numeri 24:17 Sau: hotarele
  5. Numeri 24:17 PentSam şi Ier. 48:45; TM este nesigur aici; sau: şi va prăpădi pe toţi
  6. Numeri 24:17 Locuitori mai timpurii ai Moabului, cunoscuţi din documentele egiptene sub numele de Şutu; sau, cf. Ier. 48:45: tuturor răzvrătiţilor
  7. Numeri 24:22 Posibil o referinţă la un grup de popoare din nordul Arabiei (de pe linia genealogică a lui Avraam; vezi Gen. 25:3), şi nu la imperiul asirian
  8. Numeri 24:23 Posibil: Popoarele Mării se adună în nord
  9. Numeri 24:24 Sau: Cipru

24 Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned[a] towards the wilderness. When Balaam looked up and saw Israel camped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God(A) came on him, and he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,(B)
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel.
They stretch out like river valleys,[b]
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the water.
Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag,(C)
and his kingdom will be exalted.
God brought him out of Egypt;
he is like[c] the horns of a wild ox for them.(D)
He will feed on enemy nations
and gnaw their bones;
he will strike them with his arrows.
He crouches, he lies down like a lion
or a lioness – who dares to rouse him?(E)
Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed.(F)

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,(G) 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.(H) 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.’

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15 Then he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God
and has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:(I)
17 I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a sceptre will arise from Israel.(J)
He will smash the forehead[d] of Moab
and strike down[e] all the Shethites.[f]
18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir(K) will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.
19 One who comes from Jacob will rule;
he will destroy the city’s survivors.

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,(L)
but his future is destruction.

21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:

Your dwelling place is enduring;
your nest is set in the cliffs.
22 Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.

23 Once more he proclaimed his poem:

Ah, who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;(M)
they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber,(N)
but they too will come to destruction.

25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.

Footnotes

  1. 24:1 Lit set his face
  2. 24:6 Or like date palms
  3. 24:8 Or he has
  4. 24:17 Or frontiers
  5. 24:17 Sam reads and the skulls of; Jr 48:45
  6. 24:17 Or Sethites

24 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

Balaam Foretells the Happiness of Israel

24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at (A)other times, to seek to use [a]sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel (B)encamped according to their tribes; and (C)the Spirit of God came upon him.

(D)Then he took up his oracle and said:

“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who (E)falls down, with eyes wide open:

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!
Your dwellings, O Israel!
Like valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens by the riverside,
(F)Like aloes (G)planted by the Lord,
Like cedars beside the waters.
He shall pour water from his buckets,
And his seed shall be (H)in many waters.

“His king shall be higher than (I)Agag,
And his (J)kingdom shall be exalted.

“God(K) brings him out of Egypt;
He has strength like a wild ox;
He shall (L)consume the nations, his enemies;
He shall (M)break their bones
And (N)pierce them with his arrows.
‘He(O) bows down, he lies down as a lion;
And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’

(P)“Blessed is he who blesses you,
And cursed is he who curses you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he (Q)struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, (R)“I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! 11 Now therefore, flee to your place. (S)I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.”

12 So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’? 14 And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, (T)I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the (U)latter days.”

Balaam’s Fourth Prophecy

15 So he took up his oracle and said:

“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;
16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
And has the knowledge of the Most High,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

17 “I(V) see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
(W)A Star shall come out of Jacob;
(X)A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And [b]batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of [c]tumult.

18 “And (Y)Edom shall be a possession;
Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,
While Israel does [d]valiantly.
19 (Z)Out of Jacob One [e]shall have dominion,
And destroy the remains of the city.”

20 Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
But shall be last until he perishes.”

21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said:

“Firm is your dwelling place,
And your nest is set in the rock;
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.
How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”

23 Then he took up his oracle and said:

“Alas! Who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from the coasts of (AA)Cyprus,[f]
And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict (AB)Eber,
And so shall [g]Amalek, until he perishes.”

25 So Balaam rose and departed and (AC)returned to his place; Balak also went his way.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:1 enchantments
  2. Numbers 24:17 shatter the forehead
  3. Numbers 24:17 Heb. Sheth, Jer. 48:45
  4. Numbers 24:18 mightily
  5. Numbers 24:19 shall rule
  6. Numbers 24:24 Heb. Kittim
  7. Numbers 24:24 Lit. he or that one