John Calvin Commentary Numbers 24:22

"Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive." — Numbers 24:22 (ASV)

Until Asshur shall carry you away captive. It is a harsh and unnatural construction to apply this to the Kenites. Indeed, the majority agree that it should be referred to the Israelites. Yet, they differ as to its meaning. Some take it affirmatively: that the Kenites should be wasted until the Assyrians conquer the Israelites and carry them away captive. Some, however, take it interrogatively,¹⁸⁰ as if it were an abrupt exclamation: "How long shall Asshur hold you captive?" Thus, they conceive the prolonged exile of the people is indicated.

Undoubtedly, it was the purpose of the Spirit to show, by way of correction, that their prosperity, which had been previously mentioned, should be mixed with heavy afflictions. For slavery is a bitter thing, and exile even worse.

Hence we gather that, though the Church is blessed by God, it is still in such a way that it will not cease to be exposed to various calamities. The interrogation, therefore, will be most appropriate.

¹⁸⁰ It will be seen that the A. V. renders the clause interrogatively in the margin, though with a slight difference from the sense of renders the clause interrogatively in the margin, though with a slight difference from the sense of C.