Numbers 24:1-3

Context

Balaam Prophesies Yet Again

24:1 ¹When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,² he did not go as at the other times³ to seek for omens,⁴ but he set his face⁵ toward the wilderness. 24:2 When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe;⁶ and the Spirit of God came upon him. 24:3 Then he uttered this oracle:⁷

“The oracle⁸ of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;⁹

[24:1] ¹sn 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] ²tn Heb “it was good in the eyes of the Lord.”

[24:1] ³tn Heb “as time after time.”

[24:1] ⁴tn 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] ⁵tn 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.

[24:2] ⁶tn Heb “living according to their tribes.”

[24:3] ⁷tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

[24:3] ⁸tn 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] ⁹tn The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”