Numbers 24:20

Context

Balaam’s Final Prophecies

24:20 Then Balaam¹ looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:²

“Amalek was the first³ of the nations,

but his end will be that he will perish.”

[24:20] ¹tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:20] ²tn Heb “and he lifted up his oracle and said.” So also in vv. 21, 23.

[24:20] ³sn 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.