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Números 24

ARC · Chapter 24/36

1Vendo Balaão que bem parecia aos olhos do Senhor que abençoasse a Israel, não se foi esta vez como d'antes ao encontro dos encantamentos: mas poz o seu rosto para o deserto.

2E, levantando Balaão os seus olhos, e vendo a Israel, que habitava segundo as suas tribus, veiu sobre elle o Espirito de Deus.

3E alçou a sua parabola, e disse: Falla, Balaão, filho de Beor, e falla o homem d'olhos abertos;

4Falla aquelle que ouviu os ditos de Deus, o que vê a visão do Todo-poderoso caido em extasis e d'olhos abertos:

5Que boas são as tuas tendas, ó Jacob! as tuas moradas ó Israel.

6Como ribeiros se estendam, como jardins ao pé dos rios: como arvores de sandalo o Senhor os plantou, como cedros junto ás aguas,

7De seus baldes manarão aguas, e a sua semente estará em muitas aguas: e o seu rei se exalçará mais do que Agag, e o seu reino será levantado.

8Deus o tirou do Egypto; as suas forças são como as do unicornio: consumirá as gentes, seus inimigos, e quebrará seus ossos, e com as suas settas os atravessará.

9Encurvou-se, deitou-se como leão, e como leoa: quem o despertará? bemditos os que te abençoarem, e malditos os que te amaldiçoarem.

10Então a ira de Balac se accendeu contra Balaão, e bateu elle as suas palmas: e Balac disse a Balaão: Para amaldiçoar os meus inimigos te tenho chamado; porém agora já tres vezes os abençoaste inteiramente.

11Agora pois foge para o ten logar: eu tinha dito que te honraria grandemente; mas eis que o Senhor te privou d'esta honra.

12Então Balaão disse a Balac: Não fallei eu tambem aos teus mensageiros, que me enviaste, dizendo:

13Ainda que Balac me désse a sua casa cheia de prata e oiro, não posso traspassar o mandado do Senhor, fazendo bem ou mal de meu proprio coração: o que o Senhor fallar, isso fallarei eu.

14Agora pois eis que me vou ao meu povo: vem, avisar-te-hei do que este povo fará ao teu povo nos ultimos dias.

15Então alçou a sua parabola, e disse: Falla Balaão, filho de Beor, e falla o homem d'olhos abertos;

16Falla aquelle que ouviu os ditos de Deus, e o que sabe a sciencia do Altissimo: o que viu a visão do Todo Poderoso, caido em extasis, e d'olhos abertos:

17Vel-o-hei, mas não agora contemplal-o-hei mas não de perto: uma estrella procederá de Jacob, e um sceptro subirá de Israel, que ferirá os termos dos moabitas, e destruirá todos os filhos de Seth.

18E Edom será uma possessão, e Seir tambem será uma possessão hereditaria para os seus inimigos: pois Israel fará proezas.

19E dominará um de Jacob, e matará os que restam das cidades.

20E vendo os amalequitas, alçou a sua parabola, e disse: Amalek é o primeiro das gentes; porém o seu fim será para perdição.

21E vendo os quenitas, alçou a sua parabola, e disse: Firme está a tua habitação, e pozeste o teu ninho na penha.

22Todavia o quenita será consumido, até que Assur te leve por prisioneiro.

23E, alçando ainda a sua parabola, disse: Ai, quem viverá, quando Deus fizer isto?

24E as naus das costas de Chittim affligirão a Assur; tambem affligirão a Heber; e tambem elle será para perdição.

25Então Balaão levantou-se, e foi-se, e voltou ao seu logar , e tambem Balac foi-se pelo seu caminho.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Balaam pronounces a third and fourth oracle, this time without even seeking omens, being taken directly by the Spirit of God. He prophesies Israel's future greatness and even mentions a 'star out of Jacob' who will come to rule, besides predicting the defeat of Moab, Edom, and other peoples.

Explanation

The change in Balaam — who no longer resorts to divination rituals but simply receives God's message directly — suggests a growth (even if perhaps only circumstantial) in his recognition that he cannot manipulate the process. The prophecy of the 'star that shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter that shall rise out of Israel' (v. 17) is one of the most debated messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, traditionally associated with King David in its near fulfillment, but seen by many Christians as also pointing, in a broader sense, to Christ. Despite repeatedly blessing Israel, Balaam is later revealed (Numbers 31:16) as the counselor behind the plan to seduce Israel through Moabite women — showing that recognizing spiritual truths is not the same as having a truly transformed heart.

Fun facts

  • The 'star out of Jacob' (v. 17) was invoked by Simon Bar Kokhba ('son of the star'), leader of the Jewish revolt against Rome in AD 132, who claimed to be the messiah promised in this prophecy — one of the most dramatic and tragic historical uses of this biblical passage.
  • Despite blessing Israel four times in a row in this episode, Balaam is remembered negatively throughout the rest of the Bible (2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14) as a symbol of religious greed and corrupting counsel, showing that true prophetic words do not automatically redeem the character of the one who speaks them.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Números 24:1Realizing that God wanted to bless Israel no matter what, Balaam gives up repeating the rituals of divination and simply looks out toward the wilderness.
  2. Números 24:2Seeing Israel’s camp arranged tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God comes upon Balaam.
  3. Números 24:3He begins his third poem, presenting himself as the man with open eyes, someone who sees beyond the ordinary.
  4. Números 24:4Balaam describes himself as one who hears the words of God and sees visions of the Almighty, falling into a trance with his eyes open.
  5. Números 24:5He directly praises the beauty of Israel’s tents and dwellings, in a tone very different from the curse Balak had hoped for.
  6. Números 24:6He compares the people to spreading valleys, gardens beside rivers, trees planted by the LORD Himself along the waters.
  7. Números 24:7Balaam predicts abundance and prosperity for Israel, with a king who would be exalted above other kings known at the time.
  8. Números 24:8He repeats the reminder that it was God who brought the people out of Egypt, with the strength of a wild ox, able to defeat their enemies.
  9. Números 24:9Balaam repeats, now in the form of a poem, the same promise made to Abraham: whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses it will be cursed. Even though he was paid to do the opposite, he confirms the blessing on the people for the third time.
  10. Números 24:10Balak finally loses all patience, claps his hands in anger, and complains that this is the third time Balaam has only blessed instead of cursing.
  11. Números 24:11Balak tells Balaam to leave, saying the promised honor will no longer happen, since it was the LORD Himself who prevented it.
  12. Números 24:12Balaam recalls that he had already warned Balak’s messengers about this limitation from the very beginning.
  13. Números 24:13He repeats that not even a house full of silver and gold would make him disobey the LORD, speaking only what he was told, whether good or bad.
  14. Números 24:14Before leaving, Balaam still offers Balak one extra warning: what that people would do to his people in the distant future.
  15. Números 24:15He recites his fourth and final poem, presenting himself again as the man with open eyes.
  16. Números 24:16He repeats that he hears the words of God and knows the knowledge of the Most High, having visions of the Almighty in a trance.
  17. Números 24:17In this poetic prophecy, Balaam speaks of a “Star” and a “Sceptre” that will arise from Israel, linked to victory and dominion over neighboring peoples such as Moab. The original text probably referred to a future king of Israel, but the verse became famous for being read later, in other traditions, in different ways.
  18. Números 24:18Balaam prophesies that Edom would be conquered, along with Seir, while Israel acts with strength and success.
  19. Números 24:19He announces that someone from Jacob will dominate and destroy the survivors of the enemy cities.
  20. Números 24:20Turning his attention to the Amalekites, Balaam prophesies that, despite being first among the nations, their final destiny is destruction.
  21. Números 24:21Looking at the Kenites, he describes their dwelling as secure, like a nest built high up among the rocks.
  22. Números 24:22Even so, he predicts that the Kenites would be carried away captive by Asshur in the future.
  23. Números 24:23Balaam recites yet another poem, lamenting who would survive when God carried all of this out.
  24. Números 24:24He predicts ships coming from Chittim that would afflict Asshur and other peoples, but that would also end up destroyed in the end.
  25. Números 24:25With all of this finished, Balaam gets up and returns to his own land, and Balak also goes his own way, without having obtained the curse he was seeking.

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