Discovery BoxNumbers 23:23
Context23:23 For there is no spell against 1 Jacob,
nor is there any divination against Israel.
At this time 2 it must be said 3 of Jacob
and of Israel, ‘Look at 4 what God has done!’
Numbers 24:1
Context24:1 5 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, 6 he did not go as at the other times 7 to seek for omens, 8 but he set his face 9 toward the wilderness.
[23:23] 1 tn Or “in Jacob.” But given the context the meaning “against” is preferable. The words describe two techniques of consulting God; the first has to do with observing omens in general (“enchantments”), and the second with casting lots or arrows of the like (“divinations” [Ezek 21:26]). See N. H. Snaith, Leviticus and Numbers (NCB), 295-96.
[23:23] 2 tn The form is the preposition “like, as” and the word for “time” – according to the time, about this time, now.
[23:23] 3 tn The Niphal imperfect here carries the nuance of obligation – one has to say in amazement that God has done something marvelous or “it must be said.”
[23:23] 4 tn The words “look at” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.
[24:1] 5 sn For a thorough study of the arrangement of this passage, see E. B. Smick, “A Study of the Structure of the Third Balaam Oracle,” The Law and the Prophets, 242-52. He sees the oracle as having an introductory strophe (vv. 3, 4), followed by two stanzas (vv. 5, 6) that introduce the body (vv. 7b-9b) before the final benediction (v. 9b).
[24:1] 6 tn Heb “it was good in the eyes of the
[24:1] 7 tn Heb “as time after time.”
[24:1] 8 tn The word נְחָשִׁים (nÿkhashim) means “omens,” or possibly “auguries.” Balaam is not even making a pretense now of looking for such things, because they are not going to work. God has overruled them.
[24:1] 9 tn The idiom signifies that he had a determination and resolution to look out over where the Israelites were, so that he could appreciate more their presence and use that as the basis for his expressing of the oracle.
