- 1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
- 2And 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.
- 3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
- 4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
- 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
- 6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
- 7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
- 8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
- 9He 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.
- 10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
- 11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.
- 12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
- 13If 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?
- 14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
- 15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
- 16He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
- 17I 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.
- 18And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
- 19Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
- 20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
- 21And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
- 22Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
- 23And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
- 24And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.
- 25And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
KING JAMES VERSION
NUMBERS 24
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Numbers 24 — Balaam blesses Israel again and foretells a Star out of Jacob and a Sceptre rising from Israel.
About this illustration
The ordered camp and prophetic star-and-scepter imagery join present blessing to the distant oracle. The light remains symbolic and no human ruler is invented for the prophecy.
Scripture basis: Numbers 24:1–25King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEInscription
Early eighth century BC
The Deir Alla Balaam Inscription
A literary composition painted in red and black ink on a plaster wall at Tell Deir Alla names 'Balaam son of Beor' as a seer of the gods, preserving an independent eighth-century BC Balaam tradition east of the Jordan while leaving much of its broken text and language disputed.
Numbers 22:5–41 · Numbers 23:1–30 · Numbers 24:1–25
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Early first century BC
4QTestimonia: A Second Temple Scripture Collection
A single small Cave 4 sheet gathers scriptural excerpts concerning a prophet like Moses, a star and scepter, Levi's priestly blessing, and judgment on Jericho's rebuilder.
Deuteronomy 18:15–19 · Numbers 24:15–17 · Joshua 6:26
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late Hasmonean or early Herodian period
4QNumbersᵇ and an Expanded Pentateuchal Text
4Q27 preserves a Hebrew Numbers text with harmonizing expansions shared with the Samaritan Pentateuch, revealing editorial plurality before distinctly Samaritan revisions.
Numbers 20:1–29 · Numbers 24:1–25
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