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Numbers 24

¹By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, ²where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, ³and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

⁴the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

⁵How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel!

⁶They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.

⁷Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.

⁸God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.

⁹Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

¹⁰King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, “I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times. ¹¹Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.”

¹²Balaam told Balak, “Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ¹³‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says! ¹⁴Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”

Balaam’s Final Messages

¹⁵This is the message Balaam delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

¹⁶the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

¹⁷I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.

¹⁸Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph.

¹⁹A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”

²⁰Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!”

²¹Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: “Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks.

²²But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive.”

²³Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?

²⁴Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”

²⁵Then Balaam left and returned home, and Balak also went on his way.

Numbers 24 (NLT)

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Numbers

Chapter 24

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