Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 23:10

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob , and the number of the fourth part of Israel : Let me dye the death of the righteous , and let my last end be like his.

(i. e.) The numberless people of Iacob or Israel, who according to Gods promise, Gen. 13. 16. and 28. 14. are now become as the dust of the Earth.

(i. e.) Of one of the camps of Israel, for they were divided into four camps, Numb. 2. which Balaam from this height could easily discover, much less can any man number all their host.

(i. e.) Of this righteous and holy people, the Israelites called Iesurun, Deut. 32. 15. which word signifies upright or righteous. The sense is, they are not onely happy above other Nations in this life, as I have said, and therefore in vain should I curse them, but they have this peculiar priviledge, that they are happy after death, their happiness begins where the happiness of other peoples ends, and therefore I heartily wish that my soul may have its portion with theirs when I die. But it was a vain wish, for as he would not live as Gods people did, so he died by the sword, as others of Gods enemies did, Numb. 31. 8. Ios. 13. 22.

(i. e.) My death, as the word is used. Or, My posterity, as this Hebrew word signifies, Psal. 109. 13. Dan. 11. 4. Amos 4. 2. And as the covenant and blessing of God given to Abraham did reach to his posterity, so this might not be unknown to Balaam, which might give him occasion for this wish. Or, my reward, as the word is taken, Prov. 23. 18. and 24. 20. But the first sence seems the most true, because it agrees best with the usage of Scripture to repeat the same thing in other words, and this includes the third sense, to wit, the reward, which is here supposed to follow death, and for posterity, it doth not appear that he had any, or, if he had, that he was so very solicitous for them; or that he knew the tenour of Gods covenant with Abraham and his posterity. Nay he rather seems to have had some hope of ruining Abrahams posterity, which he attempted both here and afterwards.

Marginal references: Heb. my soul or my life.; Psal. 116. 15.