Numbers 24:15–19

Numbers 24:15–19: Balak and Balaam—Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

Synopsis

Up to this point, Balaam has been uttering oracles—given to him by the LORD—which have shown that Israel is God’s chosen people, and that He is going to help them defeat their enemies. In the last passage, Balaam told Balak that he would give another oracle, about “what this people will do to your people in days to come” (verse 14). Here’s that oracle:

Then he uttered his oracle:
  “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
  the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,

the oracle of one who hears the words of God,
  who has knowledge from the Most High,
  who sees a vision from the Almighty,
  who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

“I see him, but not now;
  I behold him, but not near.
  A star will come out of Jacob;
  a scepter will rise out of Israel.
  He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
  the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.

Edom will be conquered;
  Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
  but Israel will grow strong.

A ruler will come out of Jacob
  and destroy the survivors of the city.”

(verses 14–19)

There isn’t anything else in this passage, any action or anything, just this oracle.

Thoughts

I’m not actually sure if all of the events prophesied here will happen immediately; it’s possible that some of the things prophesied here might take hundreds of years to come to pass. That’s often the way with prophecies. We’ll just have to see, in upcoming chapters and books.