John Calvin Commentary Numbers 23:10

"Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!" — Numbers 23:10 (ASV)

Who can count the dust of Jacob? Therefore, it is clear that what Balaam was to say was suggested to him by God, since he quotes the words of God’s solemn promise, in which the seed of Abraham is compared to the dust of the earth. Still, we must bear in mind what I have just mentioned: that, although that multitude was reduced to a small number by the sin of the people, nevertheless this was not declared in vain, since that little body eventually expanded itself so as to fill the whole world. Speaking by hyperbole, then, he says that their offspring would be infinite, since the fourth part will be almost innumerable.

His aspiration at the conclusion is more emphatic than a simple affirmation. “I wish (he says) that I might share with them their last end!”¹⁵⁷ For, in the first place, everyone longs for what is best for him; and again, Balaam confesses himself unworthy to be counted among the elect people of God. From this it might be easily inferred how foolishly Balak trusted in his curse.

Furthermore, in these words he refers to everlasting felicity, which is to say that Israel would be blessed in death as in life. At the same time, he is a witness to our future immortality. This is not because he had reflected on why the death of the righteous would be desirable, but because God extorted this confession from an unholy man. Thus, either unwillingly or thoughtlessly, he exclaimed that God so persevered in extending His paternal favor toward His people that He did not cease to be gracious to them even in their death. Therefore, it follows that the grace of God extends beyond the bounds of this perishing life. For this reason, this declaration contains a remarkable testimony to our future immortality.

For although Balaam, perhaps, did not thoroughly consider what he desired, still, there is no doubt that he truly professed that he wished it for himself. Nevertheless, as hypocrites are accustomed to do, he merely conceived a fleeting wish, for he sought with no real seriousness what he was convinced was best.¹⁵⁸

The Israelites are called righteous (recti), as they are also in other places, not because of their own righteousness, but according to God’s good pleasure, who had deigned to separate them from the unclean nations.

¹⁵⁷ Corn. a Lapide has a curious note on “the death of the righteous,” contrasting the happy deaths of some, whom he deemed righteous, with those of others, whom he counted enemies of the Church. Amongst the latter he refers to Calvin himself. “Calvin, excruciated, according to Beza, by divers diseases, was in addition preyed upon by lice, as Jerome Bolsec, a physician of Lyons, and formerly his disciple, reports in his Life, ch. 22. Hence observe, that those who persecute the Church, were, by God’s just judgment, eaten by worms. Such was the case with Huneric, Herod, Antiochus, the emperors Maximinianus and Arnulphus, and Calvin.”

¹⁵⁸ “Qu’il desireroit d’estre en pare’le condition avecques le peuple d’Israel;” that he desired to be in a like condition with the people of Israel. — Fr.