Numbers 24:17

17. I shall see him Rather, I see, the Hebrew future tense being used for the present. The star and sceptre are designated by the pronoun him, which is often written before its noun. Maimonides interprets this of the Messiah, whose victory all the ancient victories foreshadow.

But not now Not as a present object, but in spirit in the last days. Numbers 24:14, note.

A star… a sceptre This passage was understood by the ancient Jews to refer to the Messiah either exclusively or with a secondary reference to David. Hence the Chaldee and both the Targums Onkelos and Jonathan-“When a king shall arise out of Jacob, and Messiah shall be anointed out of Israel.” The pseudo-Messiahs of the time of Adrian took from this prophecy the surname Bar Chochab, “son of the star;” and on this account received the homage of the Jews. Most of the church fathers and early interpreters referred it to Messiah, who came signalized by a star. See Genesis 49:10; Matthew 2:2, notes.

The corners of Moab Or, on every side from end to end. It is said that this cannot refer to the Messiah because Moab had disappeared when Christ came. But this objection rests on a misconception of the spirit of the whole passage. Its object is to announce what Israel shall do in the last days. The specific nations mentioned in this prophecy are typical of all the enemies of God and of his people. As long as there are foes to the Church of God there will be Moabites. But their power is broken, and they are doomed to destruction.

All the children of Sheth Sons of tumult, (Jeremiah 48:45,) a fitting designation of all wicked men, of whom the wild and warlike Edomites, Moabites, and Amalekites are types. Jewish authorities render this all the sons of Seth, that is, all mankind. But the human race is always called after Adam, and not after Seth.