Numbers 24:18-19

24:18 Edom will be a possession,

Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession;

but Israel will act valiantly.

24:19 A ruler will be established from Jacob;

he will destroy the remains of the city.’”

Isaiah 9:14-15

9:14 So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail,

both the shoots and stalk in one day.

9:15 The leaders and the highly respected people are the head,

the prophets who teach lies are the tail.


sn Seir is the chief mountain range of Edom (Deut 33:2), and so the reference here is to the general area of Edom.

tn Or, understanding the Hebrew word for “city” as a place name, “of Ir” (cf. NRSV, NLT).

sn The metaphor in this line is that of a reed being cut down.

tn Heb “the elder and the one lifted up with respect to the face.” For another example of the Hebrew idiom, see 2 Kgs 5:1.