Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 24:1-9

"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. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith; He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel! 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. 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. God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite [them] through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee." — Numbers 24:1-9 (ASV)

Now Balaam spoke not his own thoughts, but the language of the Spirit that came upon him. Many have their eyes open who do not have their hearts open; they are enlightened, but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs people up with pride will only serve to light them to hell, where many go with their eyes open.

The blessing is nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbor. He admires their fruitfulness and increase. He admires their honor and advancement.

He admires their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. He admires their power and victory. He looks back upon what had been done for them. He admires their courage and security.

The righteous are bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when at rest, because God makes them dwell in safety. He admires their influence upon their neighbors. God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to Himself. (Numbers 24:10–14)