15 And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor—And an affirmation of the man whose eyes 'are' shut— 16 An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God—And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling—and eyes uncovered: 17 I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth. 18 And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, 'for' its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly; 19 And 'one' doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.' 20 And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'A beginning of the Goyim 'is' Amalek; And his latter end—for ever he perisheth.' 21 And he seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Enduring 'is' thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest, 22 But the Kenite is for a burning; Till when doth Asshur keep thee captive?' 23 And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Alas! who doth live when God doth this? 24 And—ships 'are' from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.' 25 And Balaam riseth, and goeth, and turneth back to his place, and Balak also hath gone on his way.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 24:15-25
Commentary on Numbers 24:15-25
(Read Numbers 24:15-25)
Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the Most High and the Almighty. No man could seem to express a greater respect to God; yet he had no true fear of him, love to him, nor faith in him; so far a man may go toward heaven, and yet come short of it at last. Here is Balaam's prophecy concerning Him who should be the crown and glory of his people Israel; who is David in the type; but our Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at, and of him it is an illustrious prophecy. Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but shall not see him nigh; not see him as Job, who saw him as his Redeemer, and saw him for himself. When he comes in the clouds, every eye shall see him; but many will see him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar off. He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as a Star and a Sceptre; the former denoting his glory and lustre; the latter his power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jacob and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by his golden sceptre, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod. Balaam prophesied concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose country he had now in view. Even a nest in a rock will not be a lasting security. Here is a prophecy that looks as far forward as to the Greeks and Romans. He acknowledges all the revolutions of states and kingdoms to be the Lord's doing. These events will make such desolations, that scarcely any will escape. They that live then, will be as brands plucked out of the fire. May God fit us for the worst of times! Thus Balaam, instead of cursing the church, curses Amalek the first, and Rome the last enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papal also; antichrist and all the antichristian powers. Let us ask ourselves, Do we in knowledge, experience, or profession, excel Balaam? No readiness of speech, even in preaching or prayer, no gifts of knowledge or prophecy, are in themselves different from, or superior to the boasted gifts of him who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and died the enemy of God. Simple dependence on the Redeemer's atoning blood and sanctifying grace, cheerful submission to the Divine will, constant endeavours to glorify God and benefit his people, these are less splendid, but far more excellent gifts, and always accompany salvation. No boasting hypocrite ever possessed these; yet the feeblest believer has something of them, and is daily praying for more of them.