Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 24
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Numbers 24
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Numbers 24
"And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness." — Numbers 24:1 (ASV)
He set his face toward the wilderness. —that is, towards the place where the Israelites were encamped on the steppes of Moab.
"And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him." — Numbers 24:2 (ASV)
Abiding in his tents ... — that is, encamped according to the order prescribed for the respective tribes. The cognate noun is rendered tabernacles in Numbers 24:5.
And the spirit of God came upon him.— In regard to the two former utterances, it is said that Jehovah put a word in the mouth of Balaam (Numbers 23:5; Numbers 23:15). In the present case the Spirit of God came upon (or, over) him. The same expression is used of the messengers of Saul (1 Samuel 19:20), and of Saul himself (in the same book,Numbers 24:23). The prophecy of Caiaphas (John 11:15) affords another instance of the sovereign power of the Spirit as displayed through the medium of wicked men.
"And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;" — Numbers 24:3 (ASV)
Balaam the son of Beor hath said.— The Hebrew word (neum) is imperfectly rendered by hath said. It is the word that is commonly used in the prophetical books of Scripture to denote a Divine saying, and is rarely used when a human author is named. It occurs in the Pentateuch only in Genesis 22:16, Numbers 14:28, and in this chapter, where it is found in Numbers 24:3-4; Numbers 24:15–16.
The man whose eyes are open.— There is great diversity of opinion respecting the meaning of the word that is here rendered open, and that, as it is here written, occurs in no other place. If shatham is identified with satham, it means to close, not to open. The meaning, however, of this verse is sufficiently explained by what follows, whichever rendering of the word shethum is adopted. Balaam appears to have been thrown into an ecstatic state, as was Saul, and as were many of the ancient prophets; and while the eye of the outer senses was closed, the eye of the inner senses was preternaturally opened.
"He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:" — Numbers 24:4 (ASV)
Falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.— Better, falling (upon his face), and having his eyes opened. The physical effect produced upon Balaam appears to have been the same as that which was produced upon Saul (1 Samuel 19:24), upon Ezekiel (Numbers 1:28), upon Daniel (Numbers 8:17–18), and upon Saint John (Revelation 1:17). The word which is here rendered “open” (gelui) is a different word from that which is so rendered in Numbers 24:2, and is frequently used in reference to Divine communications and spiritual intuition. There may be a reference to the events which befell Balaam on his journey (Numbers 22:31).
"As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters." — Numbers 24:6 (ASV)
As gardens by the river’s side.— It is probable that the allusion may be to the Euphrates, although the definite article is not prefixed to the word nahar (river) in the Hebrew. (Compare to Isaiah 7:20.)
As cedar trees beside the waters. — The difference between cedars which grow beside running water which their roots can reach, and the ordinary type of cedars which throw out their strength in lateral branches is illustrated in Ezekiel 31:3-4, where the proud Assyrian is compared to a cedar having his top among the thick boughs (or, the clouds), which the waters made great. (Psalms 92:12.)
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