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:(A)
17 I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.(B)
He will smash the forehead[a] of Moab
and strike down[b] all the Shethites.[c]
18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir(C) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 24:17 Or frontiers
  2. 24:17 Sam reads and the skulls of; Jr 48:45
  3. 24:17 Or Sethites

Balaam's Final Oracle

15 (A)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 (B)the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    (C)falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 (D)I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
(E)a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and (F)a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall (G)crush the forehead[a] of Moab
    and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 (H)Edom shall be dispossessed;
    (I)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!”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:17 Hebrew corners [of the head]