Numbers 24

Bileam laying aside his hypocrisy, fore telleth the prosperity of Israel, v.1.etc. Balak leaves him in anger, 10. but before, Bileam had prophecied of the star that was to go forth out of Jacob, and of the ruin and destruction of some nations, 14. after that, Balak and Bileam parted asunder. 25.

1. When Bileam saw, that it was good in the eyes of the LORD, that he blessed Israel, he went not this time as formerly, [Heb. as once in once,] to the enchantment, or witch-craft, sorcery. Understand the undue manner of prophesying, which he made use of, and God accounteth no better then witch-craft] but he set his face toward the Wilderness. [viz. where the children of Israel lay encamped, in the field, or plains of the Moabites.]

2. When Bileam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel dwelling, according to his Tribes: [viz. ranked in such order, as God had commanded them, Num.2.] then the spirit of God was upon him. [i.e. God inspired him what he should utter.]

3. And he lifted up his sentence, and said: Bileam the son of Beor, speaketh, and the man, whose eyes are opened. [Understand the eyes of his understanding to see, and discern, what was to happen to the children of Israel in future ages. Heb.whose eye speaketh.]

4. Then hearer of the speeches of God speaketh; he that seeth the vision of the Almighty, that falleth in a trance (or ecstasy) [Heb. the falling (one)] and to whom the eyes are uncovered.

5. How good (or goodly) are thy Tents, Jacob! Thy habitations; Israel!

6. They [viz. the children of Israel] spread themselves forth like the brooks, like the gardens by the rivers: the LORD hath planted them, like the Sandle-trees [or Aloe-trees, whose wood being dried, yields a pleasant smell] like the Cedar trees by the water. [the wood of these trees is very fair; they grow very high and large, and do not easily rot or waste; of this wood the Temple of Salomon was built, 1 Kings 6:9,10.]

7. There shall flow waters out of his [viz. Israels] buckets, and his seed shall be into many waters: [i.e. it shall multiply abundantly] and his King shall be exalted above Agag, [this is the name of the King, yea, and of all the Kings of the Amalekites, whose Kingdom at that time was very great and glorious; see 1 Sam.15.8.] and his Kingdome shall be heightened.

8. God hath carried him forth out of Egypt, his powers are as an Unicorn; [See above, chap.23 22.] he shall devour the heathen his enemies, and break their bones; [Heb. out-bone their bones, i.e. pullout, or draw forth the bones, out of their flesh] and shoot (them) through with his arrows.

9. He hath bended himself, he laid himself down like a Lion, and like an old Lion, who shall rouse him up? [Or awake him] So blessed be he that blesseth thee, etc cursed be he, that curseth thee. [according to Gods promise, Ge.12.3.]

10. Then the anger of Balak kindled against Bileam, and he smote his hands together; [In token of anger and vexation] and Balak said to Bileam; I have called thee to curse mine enemies, but behold, thou hast now three times continually blessed them. [Heb. blessing hast thou blessed them.]

11. And now pack thee away, [Heb. flee thee] to thy place: [viz. into Mesopotamia, to thy City of Pethor] I had said, that I would highly honour thee, [Heb. honouring, honour thee, viz. with great gifts and presents] but loe, the LORD hath guarded (or kept) that honour from thee. [Heb. the LORD hath guarded thee from that honor?]

12. Then said Bileam to Balak; have not I also spoken to thy messengers, whom thou sentest to me, saying:

13. If Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the command of the LORD, doing good or evil, out of my (own) heart; [i.e. of my self, see Numb.16.28.] that which the LORD shall speak, that I shall speak.

14. And now behold, I go to my people, Come, I will give thee counsel (and say) what this people shall do to thy people. [i.e. I shall give thee both advice and warning. Some by this counsel here do understand the ensuing prophecy; and others that wicked counsel, whereof below, ch.25. compare with Num.31.16 and Revelation 2:14.] in the last days. [to wit, in Davids time, as is described, 2 Sam 8.2.]

15. Then he lifted up his sentence, and said: Bileam the son of Beor speaketh, and that man whose eyes are opened, speaketh.

16. The hearer of the speeches of God, speaketh, and he that knoweth the knowledge of the most high: that seeth the vision of the Almighty, that falleth in a trance, and whose eyes are uncovered.

17. I shall [Or I do] see him, [or This a prophesy regarding Christ, the Messiah to come, whereof David was a Type] but not now, [i.e. not yet] I shall behold him, but not near; There shall go forth a star out of Jacob, and there shall come up a Scepter out of Israel; [by the Star & Scepter, Bileam understandeth the glorious kingdom of the people of God, which was fulfilled, partly, temporally in David, but chiefly in the spiritual kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ, See Revel.22.16.] the same shall smite down the borders [Heb. corners, sides, i.e. the limits, borders or frontiers] of the Moabites, [see the fulfilling hereof, 2 Sam.8.2. yet principally it was fulfilled by the calling of the Gentiles by the Apostles: some do understand by the borders or corners, the Princes of the Country] and shall destroy [properly, un-wall, dismantle] the children of Seth. [i.e. all the other Nations, out of which Christ was together himself a Church; for the posterity of Cain, perished in the stood.]

18. And Edom shall be an hereditary possession. [See the fulfill, 1 Chr.18.13. and consequently, the spiritual effect in the calling of the Gentiles, and subduing of the enemies of the Church of God] and Seir [this is the name of the mountain where the Edomites inhabited, Gen.36.7, 8.] shall be an hereditary possession to his enemies: [viz. to the children of Israel] yet Israel shall do (or, shew) power. [i.e. deal valiantly.]

19. And (one) out of Jacob shall bear sway, [Understand David, 2 Sam.8.14. and Christ] and he shall destroy the remnant out of the cities. [Heb. out of the Cities; i.e. out of every one, or all the Cities, viz.of the Edomites, verse 28.]

20. When he saw the Amalekites; he lifted up his sentence, and said; Amalek is the firstling, (or first-born) of the heathen, [Or the first, i.e. a most excellent Kingdom; or the first that waged war against the Israelites] but his uttermost is for destruction. [i.e. the Amalekites shall be destroyed, according to Gods counsel and decree. See Exod.17.14. and 1 Sam.19.]

21. When he saw the Kenites, [These dwelt among the Amalekites; See 1 Sam.15.6.] he lifted up his sentence, and said: Thy dwelling is strong, and thou hast put thy nest [i.e. habitation and abode, as Job 29:18.] into a rock.

22. Nevertheless Kain [Others, the Kainits, or Kenites, descending from one, who it seems was called Kain] shall be consumed until assur shall carry thee away captive [other, as long as Assur shall keep thee captive.]

23. Further, he lifted up his sentence and said: Oh, who shall live, [i.e. who shall remain alive then? As if he had said; alas, what a deal of trouble and misery shall befall many people in those days!] when God shall do [Heb. set, appoint, ordain] this? [viz. that followeth here.v 24. others, when God shall appoint him, viz. Israel, or shall set (up) himself.]

24. And the ships of (or from) the shore (or coast) [He hand, i.e. coast or shore] Chittim, [Kittim or Chittim was one of the sons of Javan, the son of Japhet, Noahs son, Gen.10 4. his posterity seated themselves in Cilicia, Macedonia, Cyprus and Italy, Joseph. 1. 4. Antiq. So that by the word Chittim, there is understood sometime the one, and sometime the other Nation] those that shall plague assur; also they shall plague Heber; [i.e. the Hebrews, or posterity of Heber, of whom see Gen.10.22, 24. All the Jews or Israelites are Hebers posterity, who were plagued, much both by the Romans and the Greeks] and he [viz. the Chitty] shall likewise be for destruction.

25. Then Bileam arose, and went (his way) and returned to his place: [viz. to Mesopotamia. This indeed was Bileams intent and purpose, but he was detained by the Midianites, and slain with the sword after wards by the Israelites, Numkb.31.8. others, conceive, that Bileam went indeed home, but returned to the Midianites afterwards, and perished among them] Balak went also his way.