Numbers 24:1-25
Balaam's Messages
1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
“Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;
with their arrows they pierce them.
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
“May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
18 Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur takes you captive.”
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Balaam saw that the LORD wanted to bless Israel, so he did not try to change that by using any kind of magic...But Balaam turned and looked toward the desert...He looked out across the desert and saw all the Israelites...They were camped with the tribes in their different areas...Then the Spirit of God came on him, 3 and he gave this message: “This message is from Balaam son of Beor...I am speaking about things I see clearly...These are the words I heard from God...I saw what God All-Powerful showed me...I humbly tell what I clearly see...“People of Jacob, your tents are beautiful!...Israelites, your homes are beautiful!...You are like rows of palm trees planted by the streams...You are like gardens growing by the rivers...You are like sweet-smelling bushes planted by the LORD...You are like cedar trees growing by the water...You will always have enough water, enough water for your seeds to grow...Your king will be greater than King Agag...Your kingdom will be very great...“God brought them out of Egypt...They are as strong as a wild ox...They will defeat all their enemies...They will break their bones and shatter their arrows...Israel is like a lion, curled up and lying down...Yes, they are like a young lion, and no one wants to wake him!...Anyone who blesses you will be blessed...And anyone who curses you will have great troubles.”...
When Balak heard this, he angrily struck his fist against his hand and said to Balaam, “I called you to come and curse my enemies...But you have blessed them...You have blessed them three times...Now leave and go home!...I told you that I would give you a very good payment, but the LORD has caused you to lose your reward.”...Balaam said to Balak, “You sent men to ask me to come...Don’t you remember what I told them?...I said, ‘Even if Balak gives me his most beautiful house filled with silver and gold, I can still say only what the LORD commands me to say...I cannot do anything myself, good or bad...I must say what the LORD commands.’...Now I am going back to my own people...But I will give you this warning...I will tell you what these Israelites will do to you and your people in the future.”...
Then Balaam gave this message: “This message is from Balaam son of Beor...I am speaking about things I see clearly...I heard this message from God...I learned what God Most High taught me...I saw what God All-Powerful showed me...I humbly tell what I clearly see...“I see him coming, but not now...I see him coming, but not soon...A star will come from the family of Jacob...A new ruler will come from the Israelites...He will smash the heads of the Moabites and crush the heads of all the sons of Sheth...Israel will grow strong!...He will get the land of Edom...He will get the land of Seir, his enemy...“A new ruler will come from the family of Jacob...That ruler will destroy the people left alive in that city.”...Then Balaam saw the Amalekites and said this: “Amalek is the strongest of all nations, but even Amalek will be destroyed!”...Then Balaam saw the Kenites and said this: “You believe that your country is safe, like a bird’s nest high on a mountain...But you Kenites will be destroyed, just as the LORD destroyed Cain...Assyria will make you prisoners.”...
Then Balaam said this: “No one can live when God does this...Ships will come from Cyprus...They will defeat Assyria and Eber, but those ships will also be destroyed.”...Then Balaam got up and went back home, and Balak went his own way...