Bible Chapter Summary
Numbers 24 Summary
Balaam's Oracles Bless and Prophesy
Recognizing that God's will is to bless Israel, Balaam abandons his usual pursuit of enchantments and instead turns toward the wilderness, where the Spirit of God comes upon him. He delivers a third oracle praising the beauty of Israel's camp and proclaiming her military might, future king, and the enduring principle that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse her will be cursed. When Balak angrily dismisses him, Balaam reiterates that he can only speak what the LORD commands, then delivers a fourth and final oracle foretelling a distant Star and Sceptre rising from Jacob to defeat Moab, Edom, and other nations. He concludes with shorter oracles pronouncing doom upon Amalek, the Kenites, and the ships of Chittim, before Balaam and Balak each depart to their own places.
Key themes
Key verses
Numbers 24:2
“And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.”
Numbers 24:9
“He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”
Numbers 24:13
“If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?”
Numbers 24:17
“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”
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