Numbers 24:18-19

24:18 Edom will be a possession,

Seir, ¹  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.’” ² 

Isaiah 9:14-15

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

both the shoots and stalk ³  in one day.

9:15 The leaders and the highly respected people ⁴  are the head,

the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

[24:18]  ¹ sn Seir is the chief mountain range of Edom (Deut 33:2), and so the reference here is to the general area of Edom.

[24:19]  ² tn Or, understanding the Hebrew word for “city” as a place name, “of Ir” (cf. NRSV, NLT).

[9:14]  ³ sn The metaphor in this line is that of a reed being cut down.

[9:15]  ⁴ 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.