Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 24:3

"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.