Numbers 23:18

Balaam Prophesies Again

23:18 Balaam ¹  uttered ²  his oracle, and said,

“Rise up, ³  Balak, and hear;

Listen to me, son of Zippor:

Numbers 24:3

24:3 Then he uttered this oracle: ⁴ 

“The oracle ⁵  of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; ⁶ 

Numbers 24:15

Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time

24:15 Then he uttered this oracle: ⁷ 

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

Numbers 24:20-21

Balaam’s Final Prophecies

24:20 Then Balaam ⁸  looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: ⁹ 

“Amalek was the first ¹⁰  of the nations,

but his end will be that he will perish.”

24:21 Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:

“Your dwelling place seems strong,

and your nest ¹¹  is set on a rocky cliff.

[23:18]  ¹ tn Heb “he.” The antecedent has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[23:18]  ² tn Heb “took up.”

[23:18]  ³ tn The verb probably means “pay attention” in this verse.

[24:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

[24:3]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”

[24:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

[24:20]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:20]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and he lifted up his oracle and said.” So also in vv. 21, 23.

[24:20]  ¹² sn This probably means that it held first place, or it thought that it was “the first of the nations.” It was not the first, either in order or greatness.

[24:21]  ¹³ sn A pun is made on the name Kenite by using the word “your nest” (קִנֶּךָ, qinnekha); the location may be the rocky cliffs overlooking Petra.