01

Numbers

Chapter 24
1~~And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go . . . as at other times . . . to seek omens, but he set his face {concentrated on} toward the wilderness {where he could see all of Israel}.

2~~And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel bivouacking tribe by tribe . . . and the Spirit of God {Holy Spirit} came upon him.

3-9~~And he took up his simile, and said,
  "The oracle of Balaam . . . the son of Beor . . .
The oracle of the man whose eye is opened
  {expresses divine viewpoint} . . .
The oracle of him 4~~ who hears the words of God . . .
who sees the vision of the Almighty . . .
falling down yet having his eyes uncovered. 5~~
How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob . . .
Your dwellings {tabernacles}, O Israel! 6~~
Like valleys they stretch out . . .
Like gardens beside the river . . .
Like trees planted by the Lord . . .
Like cedars beside the waters . . . 7~~
Water shall flow from his {Israel} buckets
  {water is a sign of prosperity in the desert} . . .
And his seed shall be like many waters . . .
And his king shall be higher than Agag . . .
And his kingdom shall be exalted . . .8~~
God brings him out of Egypt . . .
He {God} is for him like the horns of a wild ox {military strength} . . .
He shall devour the nations which are adversaries . . .
He shall crush their bones in pieces and shatter arrows . . . 9~~
He couches {ready to strike} . . .
He lies down like a lion {a prepared peace time military} . . .
And like a great lion, who dares arouse Him?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you . . .
And cursed is everyone who curses you
  {warning against anti-Semitism - ever! Also means a client nation
  to God can not be defeated by an enemy - only from within!}.

{Verses 10-14 Balak's interruption - basis - Anger - Gate 1 of Cosmic 1}
10~~And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have persisted in blessing them three times."

{Note: At this time, a king striking his hands in anger meant someone just might die . . . but Balaam is not killed, yet.}

11~~"Therefore flee you to your home . . . NOW {get out of here before I kill you!}. I said I would honor you greatly; but, behold, the Lord has kept you back from honor. {the Lord gets the blame!}"

12~~And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I know tell your messengers, which you sent to me, saying, 13~~ "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything beyond the mandate of the Lord . . . to do either good or bad of mine own accord . . . but what the Lord speaks, that have I to say?"

14~~"Behold, I am going to my people. Come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come." {before I go you better hear what is going to happen!}

15-19~~And he took up his simile, and said,
"The oracle of Balaam . . . the son of Beor . . .
The oracle of the man whose eye is opened
  {expresses divine viewpoint} . . . 16~~
The oracle of him who hears the words of God . . .
and knows the knowledge of the Most High
who sees the vision of the Almighty . . .
falling down yet having his eyes uncovered . . . 17~~
I see Him {Christ}, but not now . . .
I behold Him {Christ}, but not near
  {prophecy of the first Advent of Christ} . . .
A Star shall come forth from Jacob {First advent - a king BORN} . . .
And a {Rulers} Scepter shall rise from Israel
  {Second Advent of Christ - as A MAN}. . .
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab
  {Lot's descendents -incest with oldest} . . .
And tear down the sons of confusion . . . 18~~
And Edom shall be a possession . . .
Seir's enemies shall also be a possession . . .
And Israel performs valiantly . . . 19~~
Out of Jacob shall come One {Christ} Who has dominion . . .
And shall destroy the remnant from the city."

20~~And he looked at Amalek,
and he took up his discourse, and said, 
"Amalek was the first of the nations
  {that attacked the Jews at Kadash Barnia (sp) and they did not
  have an army then - Joshua became the General and built an army
  - also see Psalm 83}
And, his end shall be destruction {nation gone}."

21-22~~And he looked on the Kenites,
and took up his discourse, and said,
"Strong is your dwelling place,
and you put your nest in a rock. 22~~
Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted . . .
until Asshur shall carry you away captive. "

{Note: Moses and Israel liked the Kenites. They were Arabs and silversmiths. Moses married a Kenite when he left Egypt.}

23-24~~ And he took up his discourse, and said,
"Alas, who shall live unless God has ordained it! 24~~
And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim {Cyprus} . . .
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.