Numbers 12:2

12:2 They ¹  said, “Has the Lord only ²  spoken through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us?” ³  And the Lord heard it. ⁴ 

Numbers 20:25

20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor.

Numbers 23:18

Balaam Prophesies Again

23:18 Balaam ⁵  uttered ⁶  his oracle, and said,

“Rise up, ⁷  Balak, and hear;

Listen to me, son of Zippor:

Numbers 24:3

24:3 Then he uttered this oracle: ⁸ 

“The oracle ⁹  of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; ¹⁰ 

Numbers 24:15

Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time

24:15 Then he uttered this oracle: ¹¹ 

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

Numbers 32:24

32:24 So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said ¹²  you would do.”

Numbers 32:37

32:37 The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

[12:2]  ¹ tn Now the text changes to use a plural form of the verb. The indication is that Miriam criticized the marriage, and then the two of them raised questions about his sole leadership of the nation.

[12:2]  ² tn The use of both רַק and אַךְ (raq and ’akh) underscore the point that the issue is Moses’ uniqueness.

[12:2]  ³ tn There is irony in the construction in the text. The expression “speak through us” also uses דִּבֵּר + בְּ(dibber + bÿ). They ask if God has not also spoken through them, after they have spoken against Moses. Shortly God will speak against them – their words are prophetic, but not as they imagined.

[12:2]  ⁴ sn The statement is striking. Obviously the Lord knows all things. But the statement of the obvious here is meant to indicate that the Lord was about to do something about this.

[23:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “he.” The antecedent has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[23:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “took up.”

[23:18]  ⁷ tn The verb probably means “pay attention” in this verse.

[24:3]  ⁹ tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

[24:3]  ¹⁰ tn The word נְאֻם (nÿ’um) is an “oracle.” It is usually followed by a subjective genitive, indicating the doer of the action. The word could be rendered “says,” but this translations is more specific.

[24:3]  ¹¹ tn The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”

[24:15]  ¹³ tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

[32:24]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “that which goes out/has gone out of your mouth.”