John Calvin Commentary Numbers 24:7

"Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted." — Numbers 24:7 (ASV)

And his king shall be higher than Agag. He now begins to elaborate on their outward prosperity, namely, that the people of Israel will be powerful and flourishing, and endowed with a warlike spirit to resist the assaults of their enemies. For it would not be sufficient for them to abound with all blessings unless the ability to defend them were also added.

It is by no means a probable speculation that he speaks of Saul, who took their king Agag prisoner in the battle with the Amalekites. Instead, the opinion of those who suppose that this was a name common to all the kings of that nation is more correct.

Therefore, it was God’s intention to declare the superiority of His chosen people over the Amalekites. Nor should we be surprised that they were thus brought into special antagonism with them, not only because they were the constant enemies of Israel, but also because their power was then exceedingly great, as we will very soon see: Amalek was the first of nations... (Numbers 24:20).

Although for a long time afterwards there was no king in Israel, there is still no absurdity in the nation being designated by the names “king,” and “kingdom”; especially since God had postponed the full accomplishment of His grace until the time the kingdom was established.

Hence, in this prophecy, Balaam, however little he might have been aware of it, included the time of David; and consequently, he predicted things that were only accomplished in Christ, on whom the adoption was founded.

What follows has already been explained: namely, that God, in delivering His people, had made it plain that He intended for them to remain in safety and permanence, and that He was able to accomplish this.