N
U M B E R S
CHAP. XXIV.
This chapter continues and concludes the
history of the defeat of the counsels of Balak and Balaam against Israel, not
by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts; and as great
an instance it is of God's power over the children of men, and his favour
towards his own children, as any of the victories recorded in the book of the
wars of the Lord. What preparation was made the third time for the cursing of
Israel
we read of in the close of the foregoing chapter. In this chapter we are told,
I. What the blessing was into which that intended curse was turned, ver. 1-9.
II. How Balak dismissed Balaam from his service thereupon, ver. 10-13. III.
The predictions Balaam left behind him concerning
Israel
, and
some of the neighbouring nations, ver. 14, &c.
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Balaam
Blesses Israel a Third Time.
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B.
C.
1452.
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1 And
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. 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. 3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam
the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4 He
hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are thy
tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As 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. 7 He 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. 8 God
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. 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.
The blessing itself which Balaam here pronounces upon Israel is much the same
with the two we had in the foregoing chapter; but the introduction to it is
different.
I. The method of proceeding here varies much in several instances. 1. Balaam
laid aside the enchantments which he had hitherto depended on, used no spells,
or charms, or magic arts, finding they did him no service; it was to no
purpose to deal with the devil for a curse, when it was plain that God was
determined immovably to bless, v. 1. Sooner or later God will convince
men of their folly in seeking after lying vanities, which cannot profit. To
what purpose should he seek for enchantment? He knew that God was out of the
reach of them. 2. He did not now retire into a solitary place as before, but
set his face directly towards the wilderness where Israel lay encamped; and,
since there is no remedy, but they must be blessed, he will design nothing
else, but will submit by compulsion. 3. Now the Spirit of God came upon
him, that is, the Spirit of prophecy, as upon Saul to prevent him from
taking David, 1 Sam. xix. 23. He spoke not his own sense, but the language of
the Spirit that came upon him. 4. He used a different preface now from what he
had used before (v. 3, 4), much like that of David (2 Sam. xxiii. 1-3),
yet savouring very much (as some think) of pride and vain-glory, taking all
the praise of this prophecy to himself, and magnifying himself as one of the
cabinet-council of heaven. Two things he boasts of:-- (1.) The favour God did
him in making known himself to him. He heard the words of God, and saw the
vision of the Almighty. God himself had met him and spoken to him (ch.
xxiii. 16), and with this he was greatly puffed up. Paul speaks with humility
of his visions and revelations (2 Cor. xii. 1), but Balaam speaks of his with
pride. (2.) His own power to receive and bear those revelations. He fell into
a trance indeed, as other prophets did, but he had his eyes open. This he
mentions twice; but the words in the original are not the same. The man
whose eyes were shut, some think it may be read so (v. 3-9), but
now having his eyes open, v. 4. When he attempted to curse
Israel, he owns, he was in a mistake, but now he began to see his error, and
yet still he remained blinded by covetousness and ambition, those foolish and
hurtful lusts. Note, [1.] Those that oppose God and his people will sooner or
later be made to see themselves wretchedly deceived. [2.] Many have their eyes
open that have not their hearts open, are enlightened, but not sanctified; and
that knowledge which puffs men up with pride will but serve to light them to
hell, whither many go with their eyes open.
II. Yet the blessing is for substance the same with those before. Several
things he admires in Israel:--
1. Their beauty (v. 5): How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob!
Though they dwelt not in stately palaces, but in coarse and homely tents, and
these, no doubt, sadly weather-beaten, yet Balaam sees a beauty in those
tents, because of their admirable order, according to their tribes, v.
2. Nothing recommends religion more to the good opinion of those that look
upon it at a distance than the unity and harmony of its professors, Ps.
cxxxiii. 1. The amiableness of this people, and the great reputation they
should gain among their neighbours, are compared (v. 6) to the beauty
and sweetness of fruitful valleys and fine gardens, flourishing trees and
fragrant spices. Note, Those whose eyes are open see the saints on the earth
to be excellent ones, and their delight is accordingly in them. The
righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbour. They
are trees which the Lord has planted; that is their excellency. The
branches of righteousness are the planting of the Lord. See Hos. xiv. 5-7.
2. Their fruitfulness and increase. This may be intended by those similitudes
(v. 6) of the valleys, gardens, and trees, as well as by those
expressions (v. 7), He shall pour the water out of his buckets;
that is, God shall water them with his blessing like rain from heaven, and
then his seed shall be in many waters. Compare Hos. ii. 23, I will
sow her unto me in the earth. And waters are in scripture put for peoples,
and multitudes, and nations. This has been fulfilled in the wonderful
increase of that nation and their vast multitude even in their dispersion.
3. Their honour and advancement. As the multitude of the people is the honour
of the prince, so the magnificence of the prince is the honour of the people;
Balaam therefore foretells that their king shall be higher than Agag.
Agag, it is probable, was the most potent monarch in those parts; Balaam knew
of none more considerable than he was; he rose above the rest of his
neighbours. But Balaam foretells that Israel's chief commander, who, after
Moses, was Joshua, should be more great and honourable than ever Agag was, and
make a far better figure in history. Saul, their first king, triumphed over
Agag, though, it is said, he came delicately.
4. Their power and victory, v. 8. (1.) He looks back upon what they had
done, or rather what had been done for them: God brought them forth out of
Egypt; this he had spoken of before, ch. xxiii. 22. The wonders
that attended their deliverance out of Egypt contributed more to their honour,
and the terror of their adversaries, than any thing else, Josh. ii. 10. He
that brought them out of Egypt will not fail to bring them into Canaan, for, as
for God, his work is perfect. (2.) He looks down upon their present
strength. Israel hath, as it were, the strength of a unicorn, of which
creature it is said (Job xxxix. 9, 10), Will he be willing to serve thee,
or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind him with his band in the furrow?
"No, Israel is too powerful to be checked or held in by my curses or thy
armies." (3.) He looks forward to their future conquests: He shall eat
up the nations his enemies; that is, "he shall not only destroy and
devour them as easily and irresistibly as a lion does his prey, but he shall
himself be strengthened, and fattened, and enriched, by their spoils."
5. Their courage and security: He lay down as a lion, as a great lion, v.
9. Now he does so in the plains of Moab, and asks no leave of the king of
Moab, nor is he in fear of him; shortly will he do so in Canaan. When he has
torn his prey, he will take his repose, quiet from the fear of evil,
and bid defiance to all his neighbours; for who shall stir up a sleeping lion?
It is observed of lions (as the learned bishop Patrick takes notice here) that
they do not retire into places of shelter to sleep, but lie down any where,
knowing that none dares meddle with them: thus secure were Israel in Canaan,
chiefly in the days of David and Solomon; and thus is the righteous bold as
a lion (Prov. xxviii. 1), not to assault others, but to repose themselves,
because God maketh them to dwell in safety, Ps. iv. 8.
6. Their interest, and influence upon their neighbours. Their friends, and
those in alliance with them, were happy: Blessed is he that blesseth thee;
those that do them any kindness will certainly fare the better for it. But
their enemies, and those in arms against them, were certainly miserable: Cursed
is he that curseth thee; those that do them any injury do it at their
peril; for God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to
himself. Thus he confirms the blessing of Abraham (Gen. xii. 3), and speaks as
if therefore he did at this time bless Israel, and not curse them,
because he desired to share in the blessing of Israel's friends and dreaded
the curse on Israel's enemies.
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Balak's
Remonstrance.
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B.
C. 1452.
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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. 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy
place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD
hath kept thee back from honour. 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not
also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, 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? 14 And 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.
We have here the conclusion of this vain attempt to curse Israel, and the
total abandonment of it. 1. Balak made the worst of it. He broke out into a
rage against Balaam (v. 10), expressed both in words and gesture the
highest degree of vexation at the disappointment; he smote his hands together,
for indignation, to see all his measures thus broken, and his project baffled.
He charged Balaam with putting upon him the basest affront and cheat
imaginable: "I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou hast
shown thyself in league with them, and in their interests, for thou hast blessed
them these three times, though, by appointing the altars to be built and
sacrifices to be offered, thou madest be believe thou wouldest certainly curse
them." Hereupon he forbade him his presence, expelled him his country,
upbraided him with the preferments he had designed to bestow upon him, but now
would not (v. 11): "The Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
See what thou gettest by pleasing the Lord, instead of pleasing me; thou has
hindered thy preferment by it." Thus those who are any way losers by
their duty are commonly upbraided with it, as fools, for preferring it before
their interest in the world. Whereas, if Balaam had been voluntary and sincere
in his adherence to the word of the Lord, though he lost the honour Balak
designed him by it, God would have made that loss up to him abundantly to his
advantage. 2. Balaam made the best if it. (1.) He endeavours to excuse the
disappointment. And a very good excuse he has for it, that God restrained him
from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say what he would
not; and that this was what Balak ought not to be displeased at, not only
because he could not help it, but because he had told Balak before what he
must depend upon, v. 12, 13. Balak could not say that he had cheated
him, since he had given him fair notice of the check he found himself under.
(2.) He endeavours to atone for it, v. 14. Though he cannot do what
Balak would have him do, yet, [1.] He will gratify his curiosity with some
predictions concerning the nations about him. It is natural to us to be
pleased with prophecy, and with this he hopes to pacify the angry prince. [2.]
He will satisfy him with an assurance that, whatever this formidable people
should do to his people, it should not be till the latter days; so that he,
for his part, needed not to fear any mischief or molestation from them; the vision
was for a great while to come, but in his days there should be peace. [3.]
He will put him into a method of doing Israel a mischief without the
ceremonies of enchantment and execration. This seems to be implied in that
word: I will advertise thee; for it properly signifies, I will
counsel thee. What the counsel was is not set down here, because it was
given privately, but we are told afterwards what it was, ch. xxxi. 16.
He counselled him to entice the Israelites to idolatry, Rev. ii. 14. Since he
could not have leave from God to curse them, he puts him in a way of getting
help from the devil to tempt them. Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta
movebo--If I cannot move heaven, I will solicit hell.
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Balaam's
Prophecy.
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B.
C. 1452.
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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: 16 He 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: 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. 18 And Edom shall be a
possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall
do valiantly. 19 Out 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. 21 And he looked
on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace,
and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be
wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his
parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! 24 And ships shall
come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall
afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. 25 And Balaam rose up, and
went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
The office of prophets was both to bless and to prophesy in the name of the
Lord. Balaam, as a prophet, per force had blessed Israel; here he foretells
future events.
I. His preface is much the same as that, v. 3, 4. He personates a true
prophet admirably well, God permitting and directing him to do so, because,
whatever he was, the prophecy itself was a true prophecy. He boasts, 1. That
his eyes are open (v. 15), for prophets were in old time
called seers (1 Sam. ix. 9), because they must speak what they had seen,
and therefore, before they opened their lips, it was necessary that they
should have their eyes open. 2. That he has heard the words of God,
which many do that do not heed them, nor hear God in them. 3. That he knew
the knowledge of the Most High; this is added here. A man may be full of
the knowledge of God and yet utterly destitute of the grace of God, may
receive the truth in the light of it and yet be a stranger to the love of it.
4. That he saw the vision of the Almighty, but not so as to be changed
into the same image. He calls God the Most High, and the Almighty;
no man could speak more honourably of him, nor seem to put a greater value
upon his acquaintance with him, and yet he had no true fear of him, love to
him, or faith in him, so far may a man go towards heaven, and yet come short.
II. Here is his prophecy concerning him that should be the crown and glory of
his people Israel, who is, 1. David in the type, who not now, not
quickly, but in process of time, should smite the corners of Moab. (v.
17), and take possession of Mount Seir, and under whom the forces of Israel
should do valiantly, v. 18. This was fulfilled when David smote
Moab, and measured them with a line, so that the Moabites became
David' servants, 2 Sam. viii. 2. And at the same time the Edomites
likewise were brought into obedience to Israel, v. 14. But, 2. Our Lord
Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at in the antitype, and of him
it is an illustrious prophecy; it was the will of God that notice should thus
be given of his coming, a great while before, not only to the people of the
Jews, but to other nations, because his gospel and kingdom were to extend
themselves so far beyond the borders of the land of Israel. It is here
foretold, (1.) That while: "I shall see him, but not now; I do see
him in vision, but at a very great distance, through the interposing space of
1500 years at least." Or understand it thus:--Balaam, a wicked man, shall
see Christ, but shall not see him nigh, nor see him as Job, who saw him as
his Redeemer, and saw him for himself, Job xix. 25, 27. When he comes in
the clouds every eye shall see him, but many will see him (as the rich
man in hell saw Abraham) afar off. (2.) That he shall come out of
Jacob, and Israel, as a star and a sceptre, the former denoting his glory and
lustre, and the bright and morning star, the latter his power and
authority; it is he that shall have dominion. Perhaps this prophecy of
Balaam (one of the children of the east) concerning a star that should arise
out of Jacob, as the indication of a sceptre arising in Israel, being
preserved by a tradition of that country, gave occasion to the wise men, who
were of the east too, upon the sight of an unusual star over the land of
Judea, to enquire for him that was born king of the Jews, Matt. ii. 2.
(3.) That his kingdom shall be universal, and victorious over all opposition,
which was typified by David's victories over Moab and Edom. But the Messiah
shall destroy, or, as some read it, shall rule over, all the children of
Seth. (v. 17), that is, all the children of men, who descend from
Seth, the son of Adam, the descendants of the rest of Adam's sons being cut
off by the deluge. Christ shall be king, not only of Jacob and Israel, but of
all the world; so that all the children of Seth shall be either governed by
his golden sceptre or dashed in pieces by his iron rod. He shall set up a
universal rule, authority, and power, of his own, and shall put down all
opposing rule, 1 Cor. xv. 24. He shall unwall all the children of Seth;
so some read it. He shall take down all their defences and carnal confidences,
so that they shall either admit his government or lie open to his judgments.
(4.) That his Israel shall do valiantly; the subjects of Christ, animated by
his might, shall maintain a spiritual was with the powers of darkness, and be
more than conquerors. The people that do know their God shall be strong,
and do exploits, Dan. xi. 32.
III. Here is his prophecy concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose
country, it is probable, he had now in view. 1. The Amalekites were now the chief
of the nations (v. 20), therefore Agag was spoken of (v. 7)
as an eminent prince, and they were the first that engaged Israel when they
came out of Egypt; but the time will come when that nation, as great as it
looks now, will be totally ruined and rooted out: His latter end shall be
that he perish for ever. Here Balaam confirms that doom of Amalek which
Moses had read (Exod. xv. 14, 16), where God had sworn that he would have perpetual
war with Amalek. Note, Those whom God is at war with will certainly perish
for ever; for when God judges he will overcome. 2. The Kenites were now the
securest of the nations; their situation was such as that nature was their
engineer, and had strongly fortified them: "Thou puttest thy nest
(like the eagle) in a rock, v. 21. Thou thinkest thyself safe,
and yet the Kenites shall be wasted (v. 22) and gradually
brought to decay, till they be carried away captive by the Assyrians,"
which was done at the captivity of the ten tribes. Note, Bodies politic, like
natural bodies, though of the strongest constitutions, will gradually decay,
and come to ruin at last; even a nest in a rock will be no perpetual security.
IV. Here is a prophecy that looks as far forward as the Greeks and Romans, for
theirs is supposed to be meant by the coast of Chittim, v. 24.
1. The introduction to this parable; this article of his prophecy is very
observable (v. 23): Alas! who shall live when God doeth this?
Here he acknowledges all the revolutions of states and kingdoms to be the
Lord's doing: God doeth this; whoever are the instruments, he is the
supreme director. But he speaks mournfully concerning them, and has a very
melancholy prospect of these events: Who shall live? Either, (1.) These
events are so distant, and so far off to come, that it is hard to say who
shall live till they come; but, whoever shall live to see them, there will
be amazing turns. Or, (2.) They will be so dismal, and make such desolations,
that scarcely any will escape or be left alive; who shall live when death
rides in triumph? Rev. vi. 8. Those that live then will be as brands plucked
out of the fire, and will have their lives given them as a prey. God fit us
for the worst of times!
2. The prophecy itself is observable. Both Greece and Italy lie much upon the
sea, and therefore their armies were sent forth mostly in ships. Now he seems
here to foretell, (1.) That the forces of the Grecians should humble and bring
down the Assyrians, who were united with the Persians, which was fulfilled
when the eastern country was overcome, or overrun rather, by Alexander. (2.)
That theirs and the Roman forces should afflict the Hebrews, or Jews, who were
called the children of Eber; this was fulfilled in part when the
Grecian empire was oppressive to the Jewish nation, but chiefly when the Roman
empire ruined it and put a period to it. But, (3.) That Chittim, that is, the
Roman empire, in which the Grecian was at length swallowed up, should itself
perish for ever, when the stone cut out of the mountain without hands shall
consume all these kingdoms, and particularly the feet of iron and clay,
Dan. ii. 34. Thus (says Dr. Lightfoot) Balaam, instead of cursing the church,
curses Amalek the first, and Rome the last, enemy of the church. And so let
all thy enemies perish, O Lord!
Contents
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