Numbers 24 — T4T
24Verse 1Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, not curse them. So he did not use magic/divination like a shaman would do to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.Verse 2He saw the Israeli people camped there in their tents, with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,Verse 3and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak:“I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy;I am speaking as a man who sees what will happen in the future clearly speaks.Verse 4I hear this message from God;I see a vision from him who is all-powerful.
My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.Verse 5You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful;they are truly lovely!Verse 6Your tents are spread out in front of me like groves of palm trees in valleys,like gardens alongside a river.They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted,like strong cedar trees that grow along the rivers.Verse 7Your water buckets will always be full;the seeds that you plant will always have plenty of water to make them grow.
The Israelis’ king will be greater than King Agag;the kingdom that he rules will be honored.Verse 8God brought the Israelis out of Egypt,leading them along with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has.He devastates all the nations that oppose him;he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces,
and shoots them with his arrows.Verse 9The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, ready to pounce on their prey [SIM].
They are like lionesses that are resting, but ready to attack;no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them!God will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis,and he will curse everyone who curses you.”Verse 10Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he shouted at Balaam, “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have ◄blessed/asked God to bless► them three times!Verse 11So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money if you cursed them, but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”Verse 12Balaam said to Balak, “Do you not remember what [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,Verse 13‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good that he does not approve of.’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.Verse 14So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.Verse 19A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come;he will get rid of the people who still live in the city where Balaam first met Balak.”
Verse 24Ships will come from Cyprus Island,and the men in those ships will defeat the armies of Assyria and Eber.
But God will get rid of those men, too.”Verse 25Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.Verse 5You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful;they are truly lovely!Verse 6Your tents are spread out in front of me like groves of palm trees in valleys,like gardens alongside a river.They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted,like strong cedar trees that grow along the rivers.Verse 7Your water buckets will always be full;the seeds that you plant will always have plenty of water to make them grow.
The Israelis’ king will be greater than King Agag;the kingdom that he rules will be honored.Verse 8God brought the Israelis out of Egypt,leading them along with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has.He devastates all the nations that oppose him;he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces,
and shoots them with his arrows.Verse 9The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, ready to pounce on their prey [SIM].
They are like lionesses that are resting, but ready to attack;no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them!God will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis,and he will curse everyone who curses you.”Verse 10Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he shouted at Balaam, “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have ◄blessed/asked God to bless► them three times!Verse 11So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money if you cursed them, but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”Verse 12Balaam said to Balak, “Do you not remember what [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,Verse 13‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good that he does not approve of.’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.Verse 14So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
Balaam prophesied a fourth time
Verse 15So Balaam said this to Balak:“I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy,speaking as a man who sees what will happen in the future clearly speaks.Verse 16I hear a message from God;I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has revealed to me.I see a vision from him who is all-powerful.My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.Verse 17The things that I see in the vision are not going to happen now;I see things that God will cause to happen in the future.A man who is a descendant of Jacob will appear like a star [MET];a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people.He will crush the heads of you people of Moab;he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.Verse 18The Israelis will occupy Edom,and they will conquer their enemies who live near Seir Mountain.The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.Verse 19A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come;he will get rid of the people who still live in the city where Balaam first met Balak.”
Balaam’s final prophecies
Verse 20Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group lived, and he prophesied this:“The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation,but they will be wiped out.”Verse 21Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group lived, and he prophesied this:“You think that the place where you live is secure/safelike a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],Verse 22but you will be wiped outwhen the army of Assyria conquers you.”Verse 23Balaam ended his prophecies by saying,“Also, ◄who can <survive/escape> when God does all these things?/no one will be able to <survive/escape> when God does all these things!► [RHQ]Verse 24Ships will come from Cyprus Island,and the men in those ships will defeat the armies of Assyria and Eber.
But God will get rid of those men, too.”Verse 25Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.