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1When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness.[#sn For a thorough study of the arrangement of this passage, see E. B. Smick, “A Study of the Structure of the Third Balaam Oracle,” The Law and the Prophets, 242-52. He sees the oracle as having an introductory strophe (vv. 3, 4), followed by two stanzas (vv. 5, 6) that introduce the body (vv. 7b-9b) before the final benediction (v. 9b).; #tn Heb “it was good in the eyes of the Lord.”; #tn Heb “as time after time.”; #tn The word נְחָשִׁים (nÿkhashim) means “omens,” or possibly “auguries.” Balaam is not even making a pretense now of looking for such things, because they are not going to work. God has overruled them.; #tn The idiom signifies that he had a determination and resolution to look out over where the Israelites were, so that he could appreciate more their presence and use that as the basis for his expressing of the oracle.]
2When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.[#tn Heb “living according to their tribes.”]
3Then he uttered this oracle:[#tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”]
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
4the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:
5‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,[#tn Here מָה (mah) has an exclamatory sense: “How!” (see Gen 28:17).]
and your dwelling places, O Israel!
6They are like valleys stretched forth,[#tn Heb “as valleys they spread forth.”; #tn Or “rows of palms.”]
like gardens by the river’s side,
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
and like cedar trees beside the waters.
7He will pour the water out of his buckets,[#tc For this colon the LXX has “a man shall come out of his seed.” Cf. the Syriac Peshitta and Targum.]
and their descendants will be like abundant water;
their king will be greater than Agag,
and their kingdom will be exalted.
8God brought them out of Egypt.
They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull;
they will devour hostile people
and will break their bones
and will pierce them through with arrows.
9They crouch and lie down like a lion,
and as a lioness, who can stir him?
Blessed is the one who blesses you,
and cursed is the one who curses you!’”
10Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times![#sn This is apparently a sign of contempt or derision (see Job 27:23; and Lam 2:15).; #tn The construction is emphatic, using the infinitive absolute with the perfect tense for “bless.”]
11So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.”[#tn Heb “flee to your place.”]
12Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,
13‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’?[#tn Heb “I am not able to go beyond.”; #tn Heb “mouth.”; #tn Heb “from my heart.”]
14And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.”[#tn The construction is the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) suffixed followed by the active participle. This is the futur instans use of the participle, to express something that is about to happen: “I am about to go.”; #tn Heb “in the latter days.” For more on this expression, see E. Lipinski, “באחרית הימים dans les textes préexiliques,” VT 20 (1970): 445-50.]
15Then he uttered this oracle:[#tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”]
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;
the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
16the oracle of the one who hears the words of God,
and who knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:
17‘I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not close at hand.
A star will march forth out of Jacob,
and a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the skulls of Moab,
and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.
18Edom will be a possession,
Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession;
but Israel will act valiantly.
19A ruler will be established from Jacob;
he will destroy the remains of the city.’”
20Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:[#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.; #tn Heb “and he lifted up his oracle and said.” So also in vv. 21, 23.]
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
but his end will be that he will perish.”
21Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle:
“Your dwelling place seems strong,
and your nest is set on a rocky cliff.
22Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed.[#tc Heb “Nevertheless Cain will be wasted; how long will Asshur take you captive?” Cain was believed to be the ancestor of the Kenites. The NAB has “yet destined for burning, even as I watch, are your inhabitants.” Asshur may refer to a north Arabian group of people of Abrahamic stock (Gen 25:3), and not the Assyrian empire.]
How long will Asshur take you away captive?”
23Then he uttered this oracle:
“O, who will survive when God does this!
24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim,[#tc The MT is difficult. The Kittim refers normally to Cyprus, or any maritime people to the west. W. F. Albright proposed emending the line to “islands will gather in the north, ships from the distant sea” (“The Oracles of Balaam,” JBL 63 [1944]: 222-23). Some commentators accept that reading as the original state of the text, since the present MT makes little sense.]
and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber,
and he will also perish forever.”
25Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way.[#tn Heb “place.”]