Numbers 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
At this time, the only place to seek the God of Israel was in the camp of Israel-- and not by sorcery, but by the Spirit with the teachings and types of the tabernacle of meeting. So Balaam went not out as at other times, “to take his own course whatever came of it.” (Trapp) But rather, he set his face towards the wilderness, “where Israel lay encamped, expecting what God of his own accord would suggest to him concerning this matter.” (Wesley)
2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,4 the utterance of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes wide open:
5 “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your tabernacle, O Israel! 6 Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. 7 He shall pour water from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 8 God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. 9 ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him?’ [Genesis 49:9] Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”
From the far off plains, Balaam's heart was adrift. He could not see aright. Even from the top of Peor, he could not see the beauty of Jacob and God's Israel dwelling together. But now he goes into the camp and the Spirit of God came upon him.. “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” Within the camp of Jacob, there is Israel’s tabernacle, where the sons of Aaron were to lead in making the sacrifices of God, instructing the people in the way of righteousness. In the vision of man from outside they “appeared ‘black as the tents of Kedar.’ But, looked at in ‘the vision of the Almighty,’ they were ‘goodly,’ and whoever did not see them thus needed to have ‘his eyes opened’" (Mackintosh) by the Spirit.
This is a picture of the Church. All are invited to the table to find mercy. Jacob is camped all about. But there is only one way- through the door of Israel's tabernacle. Those who truly come are "clothed with all the comeliness of Christ — complete in Him — accepted in the Beloved." The others are at least in the right place to find Him of whom Moses and the prophets spoke. "This is what will enable me to get on with them, to work with them, to have fellowship with them, to rise above their points and angles, blots and blemishes, failures and infirmities.” (C. H. Mackintosh's Notes on the Pentateuch) God will one day separate the wheat from the tares- Israel from Jacob, but meanwhile let us work together. Remember, Yahweh can cause donkeys and wayward prophets to speak the truth of God. Perhaps, He can use me. Give me your Spirit, Lord- to see Your Church as I ought. And not only this, sanctify me- turn me, helping me to bless them and thus to be blessed of You.
10 Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! 11 Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.”
12 So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, to do good or bad of my own will. What the Lord says, that I must speak’? 14 And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”
Afternoon Repost: Numbers 24: Balaam’s Prophecy of Christ’s Eternal Kingdom
14 And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” 15 So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, and the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;16 the utterance of him who hears the words of God, and has the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, with eyes wide open: 17 I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult [Sheth]. 18 And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion, and destroy the remains of the city.”
20 Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said: “Amalek was first among the nations, but shall be last until he perishes.” 21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said: “Firm is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock; 22 nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?” 23 Then he took up his oracle and said: “Alas who shall live when God does this? 24 But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, and they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, and so shall Amalek, until he perishes.” 25 So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.
[I treated Numbers 24:24 as gloss until this repost.]
It appears that Balak comes into Jacob's camp. And "Balaam prophesied concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose country he had now in view… Thus Balaam, instead of cursing the Church, curses Amalek the first, and Rome the last enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papal also; antichrist and all the antichristian powers.” (Henry) "We see the Lion of the tribe of Judah crouching; we hear his roar; we see Him seizing upon all his enemies, and crushing them to atoms.” (Mackintosh)
A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel… “As the Star the Lord Jesus is the one of heavenly character and heavenly light, thus a star gave testimony of His birth to the wise men of the east (Matthew 2:1-2). As the Scepter He is the expression of God's authority, for the scepter signifies kingly authority.” (L M. Grant) -and He comes thus from Israel. And as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He “shall destroy the remains of the city… “shall destroy those of every city that had previously escaped. The phrase tersely describes a conqueror who first defeats his enemies in battle, and then hunts out the fugitives until he has cut off all of every place (compare 1 Kings 11:16).
The victories of David were a partial accomplishment of the predictions Numbers 24:14, Numbers 24:18, but did not exhaust them.
It is apparent that Edom and Moab are named by Balaam, as they are also by the prophets (compare e. g., Isaiah 11:14), as representatives of the pagan nations Numbers 24:8 who were hostile to the theocracy. As Jacob [or better, Israel] therefore figures as a constant type of the kingdom of Messiah in the prophets, so do Edom and Joab of the enemies of that kingdom; and in the threatened ruin of Edom and Moab is indicated the eventual destruction of all that resist the kingdom of God in its power.” (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)
Jesus was a Light in the days of His suffering on earth. And "It was under the direction of God’s providence that Pilate, though he meant it not so, wrote the title, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ The sceptre was in His hand; but He did not then put forth His great power and reign. His kingly office was held for a time in abeyance. True it is that Christ does reign. He reigns in the hearts of His willing people, and over a reluctant world. But this is the time of His patience and long-suffering. The hour is not yet come for the full manifestation of His kingly office and power. Does He reign in our hearts, destroying and keeping under our spiritual enemies?
But there is one point more in our text which we must not leave unnoticed, and that is, the consequence of the coming of the Star, and rising of the Sceptre--a power given to Israel to overcome his enemies. Those enemies are described, not generally, but very minutely. Moab is mentioned first, because, headed by Balak, the Moabites were then endeavouring to destroy Israel. The expression, ‘Smite the corners (or sides) of Moab,’ signifies an entire destruction, perpetrated along the whole compass of its dominions. The next expression, ‘The children of Sheth,’ has puzzled commentators. Some have taken it as a proper name, to designate one of Adam’s sons; but it is impossible to extract any good meaning from it if so understood. The Hebrew word has, however, lately been shown to be the contracted form of another word which signifies ‘tumult’; and this is strongly confirmed by a reference to a remarkable prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Moab, in which we can scarcely fail to observe an allusion to this prophecy of Balaam (Jeremiah 48:42). The enemies of Israel were called the children of tumult, because they were ever restless; restless in themselves, because they knew not Israel’s God, and restless as neighbours, because they would give Israel no peace. Next to Moab, Edom is mentioned. Then follow predictions of judgments on Amalek, Israel’s first enemy, on the Kenites, strong as they seemed to be in their mountain-passes, on Asshur and Eber; and so terrible did these judgments appear to the seer, that he could not help exclaiming, ‘Alas I who shall live when God doeth this?’ [answer- only God’s Israel) But all these are but typical of the greater enemies with which we have to contend. The ‘sons of tumult’ encompass us about. Satan, knowing that his time is short, is ever busy. The world, so restless because it knows not Christ, pours in its influences upon us. The old man within us, though crucified, is ever struggling for victory. And Under these influences our very relatives and friends may hinder us on our way, just as Edom did Israel. What must we do to overcome? We must fix our eye upon Jacob’s Star, the bright morning Star. We must cling to the sceptre of Jesus. Remember that the enemies of God’s people are already doomed to destruction. Yet a little while, and if you are Christ’s, Satan will be bruised under your feet. The world will not attract or frighten you. The old man will not struggle and weary you.” (G. Wagner)
But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus, and they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber... (24) The ships would bring successive oppressors, "first, by the Greeks under Alexander the Great and his successors; secondly, by the Romans." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary) They would afflict Asshur- Assyria. The outside nations would also afflict Eber- the posterity of the Hebrews (Gen 10:24).
And so shall Amalek afflict Eber, until he perishes. The Amalekites were "descendants of Esau (see on Genesis 36:12) formed wild roving bands, which (like the Bedouins of the present day) infested rather than inhabited the whole country between Judaea and Egypt, including the Negeb. They are not numbered among the inhabitants of Canaan proper." (Pulpit Commentary on Numbers) But rather in the wilderness sojourn, they were the first enemy that Israel encountered after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, attacking them from behind... And thus Amalek represents the not-so-eternal enemies of Israel. They shall perish.
Many are the enemies of the Church. "When your heart is dismayed because of the hatred and opposition of Satan; the great accuser, turn to this chapter. If he stands up to resist, the Son of God stands in your defense. The Eternal God is on your side, not because you are perfect, but because you have linked your little life with Jesus Christ in His glory and beauty.” (F.B. Meyer)