John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:10
Who can count, the dust of Jacob ,.... The people of Israel, their posterity so called, not because of their original, the dust of the earth, but because of their numbers, being as numerous as the dust of the earth, or sand of the sea, as it was promised they should be, Genesis 28:14 and which is here confirmed by the prophecy of Balaam: and the number of the fourth part of Israel ; one of the four camps of Israel, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; for this people was divided... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 23:9
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him ,.... That is, Israel in their camps; Balaam being at this time on the top of a rock, or on an high hill, from whence he had a view of Israel, encamped in the plains of Moab below him: lo, the people shall dwell alone ; this certainly respects their dwelling in the land of Canaan, where they dwelt a separate people from all others, distinguished by their language, religion, laws, customs, and manner of living, being... read more