Numbers 24

Numbers 24:17

17. I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, &c.] Rather, I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: the future tense in Hebrew being often used for the present. He saw with the eyes of prophecy; and Prophets are emphatically called seers. Bp. Newton.

— there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre &c.] The “star” and “sceptre” are probably metaphors borrowed from the ancient hieroglyphicks, which much influenced the language of the East: and they evidently denote some eminent and illustrious king or ruler, particularised in the following words. Bp. Newton.

— and shall smite the corners of Moab.] Or the princes of Moab, according to other versions: this was executed by David, when he destroyed two thirds of the people, and saved one third alive: and “so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts,” 2 Sam. viii. 2. Bp. Newton.

— and destroy all the children of Sheth.] It is common in the style of the Hebrews, and especially in the poetick parts of Scripture, and we may observe it particularly in these prophecies of Balaam, that the same thing in effect is repeated in other words, and the latter member of each period is explanatory of the former; as in the passage before us: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:” and then again, “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel:” and again afterwards, “And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies.” There is great reason therefore to think, that the same manner of speaking was continued here, and consequently that “Sheth” must be the name of some eminent person or place among the Moabites. Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:18

18. And Edom shall be a possession.] This was also fulfilled by David, 2 Sam. viii. 14, who in two of his Psalms hath mentioned together his conquest of Moab and Edom, as they are also joined together in this prophecy, Ps. lx. 8; cviii. 9. Bp. Newton.

— Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies.] That is, for the Israelites. “Seir” is the name of the mountains of Edom; so that even their mountains and fastnesses could not defend the Idumeans from David and his captains. Bp. Newton.

— and Israel shall do valiantly.] As they did particularly under the command of David, several of whose victories are recorded in 2 Sam. viii, together with his conquest of Moab and Edom. Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:19

19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.] Not only defeat them in the field, but destroy them even in their strongest cities; or perhaps some particular city was intended, as we may infer from Ps. lx. 9; cviii. 10, “Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?” And we read particularly that Jodis, David’s general, “had smitten every male in Edom,” 1 Kings xi. 15, 16.

Thus this prophecy was exactly fulfilled in the person and actions of David: but most Jewish as well as Christian writers apply it, primarily perhaps to David, but ultimately to the Messiah, as the person chiefly intended, in whom it was to receive its full and entire

completion. Onkelos, the most ancient and valuable of the Chaldee paraphrasts, interprets it of the Messiah: “When a prince, says he, shall arise of the house of Jacob, and Christ shall be anointed of the house of Israel, He shall both slay the princes of Moab, and rule over all the sons of men:” and with him agree the other Targums or paraphrases. Maimonides, one of the most learned and famous of the Jewish doctors, understands it partly of David, and partly of the Messiah; and with him agree other rabbies, cited by the criticks and commentators to this purpose. It appears to have been generally understood by the Jews as a prophecy of the Messiah, because the false Christ, who appeared in the reign of the Roman emperor Adrian, assumed the title of Barchochebas, or the son of the star, in allusion to this prophecy, and in order to have it believed that he was the star whom Balaam had seen afar off. The Christian Fathers are unanimous in applying this prophecy to our Saviour, and to the star which appeared at His nativity. Origen in particular saith, that in the law there are many typical and enigmatical references to the Messiah: but he produces this as one of the plainest and clearest of prophecies. And both Origen and Eusebius affirm, that it was in consequence of Balaam’s prophecies, which were known and believed in the East, that the Magi, upon the appearance of a new star, came to Jerusalem to worship Him who was born King of the Jews. The stream of modern divines and commentators runs the same way: that is, they apply the prophecy principally to our Saviour, and by Moab and Edom understand the enemies and persecutors of the Church. In favour of this opinion it must be acknowledged, that many prophecies of Scripture have a double meaning, literal and mystical; respect two events; and receive a twofold completion. David too was in several things a type and figure of the Messiah. If by “destroying all the children of Sheth” he meant “ruiling over all mankind,” this was never fulfilled in David. A star did really appear at our Saviour’s nativity; and in Scripture He is styled “the day star,” 2 Pet. i. 19; “the morning star,” Rev. ii. 28; “the bright and morning star,” Rev. xxii. 16; perhaps in allusion to this very prophecy. Upon the whole, it is probable that the Messiah was remotely intended; but that the primary and literal meaning of the prophecy respects the person and actions of David: particularly for this reason, because Balaam is here advertising Balak, “what this people should do to his people in the latter days;” that is what the Israelites should do to the Moabites hereafter. Bp. Newton.

Balaam here, in prophetic vision, describes the remote coming of SHILOH, under the imagery of a “star” and a “sceptre,” or an illustrious prince. Though it was foretold, that “the sceptre should depart from Judah at his coming,” this prophecy confirms to him a proper sceptre of His own. And our Lord claimed it, when He avowed Himself “a king” to Pilate; but declared that “His kingdom was not of this world.”

This branch of the prophecy was fulfilled about 1600 years after, when, at the birth of Christ, the Magi from the East, who are supposed by Theophylact to have been the posterity of Balaam, came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for

Balaam prophesieth the destruction of some nations. Before CHRIST 1432. Or, the first of the nations that starred against Israel. Exod. 17. 8. Or, shall be seen to destruction. Or, how long shall it be are Asshur carry thee away captive? lek, 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.

Numbers 24:20

20.—Amalek was the first of the nations.] The first and most powerful of the neighbouring nations. Bp. Newton. — but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.] Balaam here confirms what God had before pronounced by Moses, Exod. xvii. 14. He had before declared that the king of Israel should prevail over the king of Amalek; but the menace is here carried further, and Amalek is consigned to utter destruction. This sentence was in a great measure executed by Saul, 1 Sam. xv. 7, 8; then by David, 1 Sam. xxvii. 8, 9; and again, by a farther conquest, 1 Sam. xxx. 17; and lastly was completed by the Simeonites, in the days of Hezekiah, 1 Chron. iv. 41—43. And where is the name or the nation of Amalek subsisting at this day? What history, what tradition concerning them is remaining any where? They are but just enough known and remembered to shew, that what God had threatened, He hath punctually fulfilled: “I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven—and his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.” Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:21

21.— the Kenites.] Not one of the Canaanitish nations, mentioned in Gen. xv. 19, but probably a tribe of the Midianites: Jethro, the father in law of Moses, being called in one place “the priest of Midian,” Exod. iii. 1, and in another, “the Kenite,” Judges i. 16. Bp. Newton. — Strong is thy dwellingplace, &c.] Their situation was strong and secure among the mountains. Bp. Newton. In these words is an allusion to that princely bird the eagle, which not only delights in soaring to the loftiest heights, but chooses the highest rocks and most elevated mountains as the most desirable situations for erecting her nest. Burdur. 22. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.] The Amalekites were to be utterly destroyed, but the Kenites were to be carried captive. And accordingly when Saul was sent to destroy the Amalekites, he ordered the Kenites to depart from among them, 1 Sam. xv. 6. This shews that they were “wasted” and reduced to a low and weak condition. And as the kings of Assyria carried captive, not only the Jews, but also the Syrians, 2 Kings xvi. 9, and several other nations, 2 Kings xix. 12, 13, it is highly probable that the Kenites shared the same fate with their neighbours; especially as some Kenites are mentioned among the Jews after their return from captivity. Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:23

23.— Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!] This exclamation is referred by several commentators to what precedes; but it relates rather to what follows: implying that he is now prophesying of very distant and very calamitous times. Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:24

24. And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim,] Or rather, for ships shall come, &c. Chittim was one of the sons of Javan, who was one of the sons of Japhet, by whose posterity “the isles of the Gentiles were divided” and peopled; that is, Europe, and the countries to which the Asiaticks passed by sea. The land of Chittim was a general name for the countries and islands in the Mediterranean. And Balaam might here mean either Greece, or Italy, or both; the particular names of those countries being at that time perhaps unknown in the East. And the passage may be the better understood of both, because Greece and Italy were alike the scourges of Asia. Bp. Newton. — and shall afflict Asshur.] Asshur properly means the descendants of Asshur, the Assyrians; but the Syrians and Assyrians are often confounded together, and mentioned as the same people. The Greeks under Alexander the Great subdued all those countries. The Romans afterwards extended their empire into the same regions: and Assyria, properly so called, was conquered by the emperor Trajan. Bp. Newton. — and shall afflict Eber.] By Eber is meant, either the people bordering on the Euphrates; or the Hebrews, the posterity of Eber. If the former; they, as well as the Assyrians, were subdued both by the Greeks and Romans: if the latter, as is most probable, they were afflicted, though not much by Alexander himself, yet by his successors the Seleucidæ, and particularly by Antiochus Epiphanes, who spoiled Jerusalem, defiled the temple, and slew all those who adhered to the law of Moses, 1 Mac. i. They were worse afflicted by the Romans, who not only subdued and oppressed them, and made their country a province of the empire, but at last took away their place and nation, and sold and dispersed them over the face of the earth. Bp. Newton. — and he also shall perish for ever.] That is, “Chittim,” who is the main subject of this part of the prophecy. If by Chittim be meant the Greeks, the Grecian empire was entirely subverted by the Romans: if the Romans, the Roman empire was in its turn broken into pieces by the incursion of the northern nations. The name only of the Roman empire and Cesarean majesty is subsisting at this day, and is transferred to another country and another people. Bp. Newton.

Numbers 24:25

25.— and returned to his place.] Unto his country, Mesopotamia. His prophecies being uttered, the design of Heaven was now answered, and the instrument was thrown aside. The wicked Balaam was now left entirely to pursue the schemes of his own mad ambition. He had been ordered to depart; with which order he seems, publicly at least, to have complied. The text says, “he went to his place.” If he went home, it is plain however he returned. And now he effected that grand scheme, which he hoped would be as destructive to the Israelites as if he had cursed them. Josephus tells us, that Balaam informed the king, he could never subdue the Israelites, unless they should be disobedient