Numbers

Chapter 24

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Leningrad Codex, through the Open Scriptures Westminster Leningrad Codex. The written consonants are printed. A Masoretic reading is footnoted when it differs. No Dead Sea reading was substituted unless it was read from a fragment. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Greek, Syriac, and Latin versions are witnesses, not the default.

A dotted word is a harder one. Point at it, or tap it, for a short definition.

1Balaam saw that it was good in Yahweh’s eyes to bless Israel, and he did not go, as time after time, to meet omens. He set his face toward the wilderness.

2Balaam lifted his eyes and saw Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the spirit of God was on him.

3He took up his verse and said, Utterance of Balaam son of Beor, utterance of the man whose eye is opened.

Notes (1)

Translation
Ne’um is an utterance. Shetum ha-ayin is uncertain. The ordinary verb means to stop a thing up, so “whose eye is shut” is live. The next line says his eyes are uncovered, and “opened” is printed for that reason.

4Utterance of one who hears the sayings of El, who sees a vision of Shaddai, falling, with eyes uncovered.

Notes (1)

Translation
Shaddai is kept as a name. See the glossary. “Almighty” is not printed.

5How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.

6Like wadis stretched out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes Yahweh has planted, like cedars beside water.

Notes (1)

Translation
Ahalim is aloes, the plant. It is not the word for tents. That word is in the line before.

7Water drips from his buckets, and his seed is in many waters. His king is lifted above Agag, and his kingdom is raised.

8El, who brings him out of Egypt, has horns like a wild ox for him. He eats nations, his foes, and gnaws their bones, and smashes them with his arrows.

Notes (1)

Translation
Yegarem is he gnaws the bones. Chitzav yimchatz is he smashes with his arrows. The wild ox is the same animal as in 23:22.

9He crouched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness. Who will raise him? Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed.

10Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed, blessed them these three times.

11Now flee to your place. I said I would honor, honor you, and look, Yahweh has held you back from honor.

12Balaam said to Balak, Did I not speak also to your messengers, whom you sent to me, saying,

13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to cross Yahweh’s mouth, to do good or evil from my own heart. What Yahweh speaks, that I will speak.

14And now, look, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the later days.

15He took up his verse and said, Utterance of Balaam son of Beor, utterance of the man whose eye is opened,

16utterance of one who hears the sayings of El and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision of Shaddai, falling, with eyes uncovered.

Notes (1)

Translation
Elyon is the Most High. Shaddai stays a name, as in verse 4.

17I see him, but not now. I look at him, but not near. A star steps out from Jacob, and a staff rises from Israel. It smashes the edges of Moab and tears down all the sons of Seth.

Notes (1)

Translation
Kokhav is a star. Shevet is a staff. Pa’atei Moav are the edges of Moab, the sides of the head as well as the borders. Qarqar is uncertain. “Tears down” is printed. “The skull of” is the other live reading, and it is not printed. Sheth is Seth, the name as written.

18Edom becomes a possession, and Seir, his enemies, becomes a possession, and Israel does a mighty thing.

Notes (1)

Translation
Yerushah is a possession, land taken. Oseh chayil is doing a mighty thing. Chayil here is that deed, not the “worth” of Ruth.

19One from Jacob shall rule, and he shall destroy the survivor from a city.

20He saw Amalek, and he took up his verse and said, Amalek is the first of the nations, and his end is until he perishes.

21He saw the Kenite, and he took up his verse and said, Enduring is your seat, and your nest is set in the rock.

Notes (1)

Translation
Qen is the Kenite, and qinnekha is “your nest.” The two words sit together. Ethan is enduring, lasting.

22But Kain will be for burning. How long until Asshur takes you captive?

Notes (1)

Translation
Qayin is Kain, the same name as the Kenite line. Leva’er is for burning. The “how long” is in the Hebrew.

23He took up his verse and said, Woe. Who will live when El sets this?

Notes (1)

Translation
Missumo El is compressed. “When El sets this” is printed. The line does not name what is set.

24Ships from the hand of Kittim will afflict Asshur and afflict Eber, and he too, until he perishes.

25Balaam rose and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.

Numbers

Chapter 24

A dotted word is a harder one. Point at it, or tap it, for a short definition.

1Balaam saw that it was good in Yahweh’s eyes to bless Israel, and he did not go, as time after time, to meet omens. He set his face toward the wilderness.

2Balaam lifted his eyes and saw Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the spirit of God was on him.

3He took up his verse and said, Utterance of Balaam son of Beor, utterance of the man whose eye is opened.

Notes (1)

Translation
Ne’um is an utterance. Shetum ha-ayin is uncertain. The ordinary verb means to stop a thing up, so “whose eye is shut” is live. The next line says his eyes are uncovered, and “opened” is printed for that reason.

4Utterance of one who hears the sayings of El, who sees a vision of Shaddai, falling, with eyes uncovered.

Notes (1)

Translation
Shaddai is kept as a name. See the glossary. “Almighty” is not printed.

5How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel.

6Like wadis stretched out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes Yahweh has planted, like cedars beside water.

Notes (1)

Translation
Ahalim is aloes, the plant. It is not the word for tents. That word is in the line before.

7Water drips from his buckets, and his seed is in many waters. His king is lifted above Agag, and his kingdom is raised.

8El, who brings him out of Egypt, has horns like a wild ox for him. He eats nations, his foes, and gnaws their bones, and smashes them with his arrows.

Notes (1)

Translation
Yegarem is he gnaws the bones. Chitzav yimchatz is he smashes with his arrows. The wild ox is the same animal as in 23:22.