Numbers 24King James Version
Balaam blesses Israel a fourth time, this time in a vision of the future: 'There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.' Christians have read this as a prophecy of Christ for two thousand years. Balak is furious and sends Balaam home in disgrace.
Balaam abandons the attempt to use divination and simply speaks what the Spirit of God gives him. His third and fourth oracles are lush, poetic blessings, including the star prophecy: a star will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise from Israel. Balak dismisses Balaam in anger. Balaam gives three more short oracles predicting the defeat of Moab, Edom, Amalek, and others before departing.
The most memorable prophecy in Numbers comes from a hired curser who stopped trying to manipulate the message and simply spoke what he received.
17: "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth." A distant vision from an unexpected prophet, referenced by magi in Matthew's Gospel.
The heights of Peor, overlooking the wilderness, 1406 BC. Balaam's fourth oracle is delivered not from a ritual platform but standing free, looking out over the camp of Israel spread across the plains below. The poetry is among the finest in Numbers. Then Balaam goes home, and what follows in the next chapter shows what he eventually helped Balak do instead.
Balaam, who prophesies and then departs; Balak, who is furious; the nations named in the final oracles: Moab, Edom, Amalek, the Kenites, Asshur, and Eber.
The star prophecy has been interpreted messianically since at least the Second Temple period, cited in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and taken by the Magi in Matthew 2 as the sign they were following. Bar Kokhba, the leader of the second Jewish revolt against Rome in 132 AD, took his name 'Son of the Star' directly from this verse. The chapter is the apex of the Balaam narrative.
For when something good was said about you by someone who had every incentive not to say it. There is a particular credibility to blessing that comes from an unlikely source.
1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
10And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?
14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
15And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
20And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.