Numbers 24:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 24:1-9

The blessing itself which Balaam here pronounces upon Israel is much the same with the two we had in the foregoing chapter; but the introduction to it is different. I. The method of proceeding here varies much in several instances. 1. Balaam laid aside the enchantments which he had hitherto depended on, used no spells, or charms, or magic arts, finding they did him no service; it was to no purpose to deal with the devil for a curse, when it was plain that God was determined immovably to bless,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:1

And when Balsam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel ,.... That it was good in his sight, what he approved of, and was well-pleasing to him, and that it was his determined mind that Israel should be blessed, and not cursed, from which there was no turning him, by offering sacrifices to him, and much less by his sorceries and divinations: he went not as at other times ; or, "as at a time in a time" F17 כפעם בפעם "sicut vice in vice", Montanus, Vatablus. , at two times,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:2

And Balaam lifted up his eyes ,.... Being on Mount Peor: and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes ; in that exact order in which they were directed to encamp under four standards, and so many tribes under each standard, Numbers 2:1 . and the Spirit of God came upon him ; not in his grace but in his gifts; not as a spirit of sanctification, but as a spirit of prophecy, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it; and so sometimes the Spirit of God in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:3

And he took up his parable ,.... His parable of prophecy, as the Targums, his prophetic speech, which, with a loud voice, he expressed in the hearing of Balak and his nobles: and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said ; the preface to his prophecy is pompous, and seems to be full of pride and vanity, and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem represent him;"the man who is more excellent than his father hath said, to whom hidden secrets, even what was hidden from the prophets is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:4

He hath said, which heard the words of God ,.... God speaking to him, which he did several times, and with which he was greatly elated, see Numbers 22:9 , which saw the vision of the Almighty ; not that he had a sight of any similitude of God, though the angel that appeared to him, which was Christ the uncreated angel, might appear in an human form, for some visible form was seen both by the ass and him; but rather this respects the visions of God to him in the night; it may be in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:5

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob ,.... Not that the matter of which they were made was so rich, or their structure so admirable, but the order in which they were placed was so beautiful and agreeable: and thy tabernacles, O Israel ; which is the same thing in other words, and which may be applied figuratively to the church of God, which often goes by the names of Jacob and Israel; and agrees with particular congregations and assemblies of saints, where they dwell as in tents in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:6

As the valleys are they spread forth ,.... Long and broad, lying between several mountains, and reaching from hill to hill; so the armies of Israel lay encamped in the plains and villages of Moab, making a very considerable length and breadth; the camp of Israel is said to be twelve miles long, and twelve miles broad; so the Targum on Numbers 2:3 and this may denote the lowness of the saints and people of God in their own eyes, and their largeness in themselves; and especially when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets ,.... That is, God shall plentifully send down rain out of the clouds upon these valleys, gardens, and trees, and make them fruitful; and this may be a figure of the grace of God, with which his churches are watered, and become fruitful by means of the word and ordinances, which is conveyed through them out of the fulness which is in Christ: and his seed shall be in many waters ; the seed and offspring of Israel shall be in a place of many... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:8

God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn ,.... Here he repeats what he had said in a former prophecy; see Gill on Numbers 23:22 , he shall eat up the nations his enemies: the seven nations of Canaan, which should be subdued by Israel, and that with as much ease as a lion devours its prey; nor would the Canaanites be able to make any more resistance to them than a creature in the paws of a lion; and the phrase denotes the utter destruction of them: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:9

He couched ,.... Which may respect the posture of the armies of Israel in the plains of Moab: he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion ; as he would do, and did in the land of Canaan, when conquered by Israel; they took up their residence on it quietly, and dwelt in it securely, and in no more fear of their enemies than a lion, which lays itself down and sleeps without concern anywhere: who shall stir him up ? who dare do it? as it would be a very rash, bold, daring, and dangerous... read more

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