Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 24

1 AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not as at other times, to seek for inchantments ; but he set his face toward the wilderness .

(i. e.) To use enchantments, which he is said to have done, either because when he consulted and sacrificed to God. he did also use enchantments and consult with the Devil, that if one would not, the other might help him; or, because he consulted God in a magical and superstitious way, by using such postures or instruments or forms of words as inchanters used.

Where Israel lay encamped, either with intent to curse Israel without Gods leave: or rather, expecting what God of his own accord would suggest to him concerning this matter.

Marginal references: chap. 23. 3▪ 1[illegible: 1+ letters].; Heb. to the meeting of inchantments.

2 And Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents, according to their tribes : and the spirit of God came upon him .

In the order appointed Numb. 2.

(i. e.) Inspired him to speak the following words, and so constrained him again to bless those whom he desired to curse.

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open , hath said;

The eyes, either 1. of his body, as in the following verse: or 2. of his mind, which God had opened in a peculiar and Prophetical manner, whence Prophets are called Seers, 1 Sam. 9. 9. He implies that before he was blind and stupid, having eyes, but not seeing nor understanding Some render the words, having his eyes shut, as the Hebrew verb Satham signifies, the letters Schin and Samech being frequently exchanged, and so the meaning is, that he received this revelation either in a dream, when mens eyes are simply shut; or in an extasie or trance, when mens eyes, though open, are in a manner shut, to wit, as to the use and exercise of them.

Marginal references: chap. 23. 7, 18.; Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now open.

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty falling into a trance , but having his eyes open:

So called either strictly and properly, because he was awake when this was revealed to him: or largely and improperly, for any extraordinary discovery of Gods mind to him, whether sleeping or waking.

Or, extasy, fainting and falling upon the ground, as the Prophets used to do. See 1 Sam. 19. 24. Ezek. 1. 28. and 3. 23. and 43. 3. Dan. 8. 17, 18. and 10. 16. Rev. 1. 17. Others, falling suddenly into a sleep, as the Prophets sometimes did, as Gen. 15. 12. Dan. 8. 18.

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the rivers side , as the trees of lignaloes which the LORD hath planted , and as cedar-trees beside the waters .

Which oft-times from a small beginning are spread forth far and wide. Others, as the brooks, or rivers, as the word signifies, which stretch out and disperse their waters into several channels, and sometimes further.

(i. e.) The Israelites last mentioned.

Pleasant and fruitful and secured by a fence.

An Arabian and Indian tree of a sweet smell yielding good shade and shelter both to man and beast, such is Israel, famous among the nations, and not onely safe themselves, but yielding shelter to all that joyn themselves to them.

Which are the best of the kind, such as not man but God might seem to have planted, as the best of all sorts are ascribed to God, as the trees, hills, cities, of God, &c. Compare Psal. 104. 16.

Which are famous for growth and height and strength and durableness, whence S[illegible: 1+ letters]lomons Temple was built of this wood, 1 King. 6. 9, 10.

Where trees thrive best.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets , and his feed shall be in many waters , and his king shall be higher than Agag , and his kingdom shall be exalted.

He (i. e.) God, will abundantly water, the valleys, gardens, and trees, which represent the Israelites, ver. 6. i. e. he will wonderfully bless his people not onely with all outward blessings of which a chief one in those parts was plenty of water, but also with higher gifts and graces, with his word and spirit, which are oft signified by watets, Io[illegible: 1+ letters]. 3. 5. & 4. 10. & 7. 38, 35. and at last with eternal life, the contemplation whereof made Balaam desire to die the death of the righteous. Others thus, God shall make his posterity numerous: for the procreation of Children is oft signified by waters, fountains, cisterns, &c. as Psal. 68. 26. Prov. 5. 15, 18. & 9. 17. Isa. 48. 1. But there is no necessity of flying to Metaphors here, and therefore the other being the literal and proper sence, is by the laws of good interpretation to be preferred before it.

This also may be literally understood of their seed, which shall be sown in waterish ground, and therefore bring forth a better increase, Isa. 32. 20. Others thus, His seed shall be so numerous that it shall branch forth into many people, the several tribes being reckoned and sometimes called several people. Or, his seed shall rule over many people or nations, which are sometimes signified by many waters. as Psal. 144. 7. Isa. 57. 20. Ier. 47. 2. Rev. 17. 15. But here also the literal sence seems best.

(i. e.) The King of Israel, either God, who was in a peculiar manner their King or Ruler, Numb. 23. 21. Iudg. 6. 23. 1 Sam. 8. 7. Isa. 33. 22. or their chief governour or governours, whether King or others: for Moses is called their king, Deut. 33. 5. and the Judges were in a m[illegible: 1+ letters]ner Kings.

(i. e.) Than the king of the Amalekites, which [illegible: 1+ letters]ing and people were famous and potent in that age, ver. 20. as may be guessed by their bold attempt upon so numerous a people as Israel was. And it is probably thought by the Iewi[illegible: 1+ letters]h and other Interpreters, that Agag was the common name of the Amalekiti[illegible: 1+ letters]h kings, as Ahimelech was of the Philistines, and Pharaoh of the Egyptians, and Caesar of the Ro[illegible: 1+ letters]s. But though this king onely be instanced in, yet other kings, to wit, such as did or should border upon the Israelites, are doubtless to be understood, above whom the kings and people of Israel sometimes were advanced, and oftener should have been, if they had not been their own hinderance by their sins. Some make this a prophecy of Sauls conquering Agag and his people, 1 Sam. 15. 7, 8. But the words seem to be more general and to signifie a greater honour and advantage to Israel than that was.

Marginal references: Deut. 8. [illegible: 1+ letters].

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]nbone, or, take out, i. e. shall eat the flesh to the very bones, and then break them also.

Marginal references: chap. 23. 22.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up ? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

Having conquered his enemies the Canaanites, and the[illegible: 1+ letters] land he shall quietly and securely rest and settle himself there.

(i. e.) Awake or provoke him.

Marginal references: Gen. 49. 9.; Gen. 12. 3. and 27. 29.

10 And Balaks anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together : and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

A sign of great anger, Ezek. 21. 17. and 22. 13.

11 Therefore now, flee thou to thy place : I thought to promote thee unto great honour, but lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Whence I sent for thee, Numb. 22. 5.

Whose commands thou hast preferred before my desires and interest; and therefore seek thy recompence from him, and not from me.

14 And now behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee , what this people shall do to thy people in the latter dayes .

Or, inform thee, to wit, concerning future things, as it here follows, for this word seems inseparably joyned with the following. Others, give thee counsel, and tell thee what this people, &c. So it is a short and defective speech, such as we have Exod. 4. 5. and 13. 8. And by counsel they understand that which is related, Numb. 25. 1, 2. which was done by Balaams counsel, Numb. 31. 16. Revel. 2. 14. But the former sence is more unforced and agreeable to the following words, as they ly.

Not in thy time, therefore thou hast no reason to fear, but in succeeding ages, as 2 Sam. 8. 2. &c.

Marginal references: Mie. 6. 5.

17 I shall see him but not now : I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth .

Or, I have seen, or do see, for the future is oft put for other times or tenses: he speaks of a prophetical sight, like that of Abrahams, who saw Christs day, Ioh. 8. 56.

To wit▪ the star, and scepter, as it here follows, i. e. a great and eminent prince, which was to come out of Israels loyns, either 1. David, who first did the things here spoken of, 2 Sam. 8. 2. Psal. 60. 8. and 108. 9. and some of the kings of Iudah and Israel after him, for it is not necessarily understood of one particular person: or 2. the Messias, as both Iewish and Christian interpreters expound it, who most eminently and fully performed what is here said, in destroying the enemies of Israel or of Gods Church, who are here described under the names of the nearest and fiercest enemies of Israel, which he doth partly by himself, by his word and spirit, and spiritual plagues; and partly by his ministers, those princes whom he makes nursing-fathers to his Church, and scourges to his enemies. And to him alone agrees the foregoing verb properly, I shall see him, to wit, in my own person, or with the eyes of my own body, as every eye shall see him, Rev. 1. 7. when he comes to judgement. Nor can it seem strange that Balaam should speak of such high and remote things, seeing he foresaw and foretold these things by the revelation of the spirit of God, by which also he foresaw the great felicity of good men, and the miserable state of bad men after death and judgment, Numb. 23. 10.

Not yet, but after many ages.

A title oft given to princes and eminent and illustrious persons, and particularly to the Messias, Rev. 2. 28. and 22. 16.

(i. e.) A scepter-bearer, a king or ruler, even that scepter mentioned Gen. 49. 10.

Either 1. literally, the borders, which by a Synecdoche, are oft used in Scripture, for the whole country to which they belong, as Exod. 8. 2. Psal. 74. 17. and 147. 14. Ier. 15. 13. and 17. 3. Or 2. metaphorically, to wit, Princes and rulers, who ate sometimes compared to corners, as Zach. 10. 4. and Christ himself is called a corner stone, because he unites and supports the building. But I prefer the former sence.

Which seems to be the name of some then eminent, though now unknown, place or prince in Moab, where there were many princes, as appears from Numb▪ 23. 6. Amos 2. 3. there being innumerable instances of such places or persons sometimes famous, but now utterly lost as to all monuments and remembrances of them.

Marginal references: Mat. 2. 2.; Psal. 110. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Or, [illegible: 1 word] through th[illegible: 1+ letters] princes of [illegible: 1 word] ▪

18 And Edom shall be a possession , Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies , and Israel shall do valiantly :

Which was also foretold Gen. 25. 23. and in part fulfilled, 2 Sam. 8. 14. 1 Chron. 18. 13. but more fully by Christ, Amos 9. 12. Obad. ver. 18. who shall subdue and possess all his enemies here signified by the name of Edom, as Iacob or Israel, his brother, signifies all his Church and people.

A part and mountain of Edom, Gen. 36. 8. which may be here mentioned as the strongest part of Edom, to shew that not onely the rest of Edom, which is more accessible, but even the rocks and best munitions of it, shall be taken.

The Israelites.

Or, gain power, or riches, or victory, all which are comprehended in this phrase.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 8. [illegible: 1 word] Psal. 60. 8, [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion , and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city .

Out of Iacobs loyns.

David, and especially Christ.

Or, from or out of the city, i. e. the cities, the singular number for the plural, which hath been oft noted before. The sence is, He shall not onely subdue those Moabit[illegible: 1+ letters]s and Edomites which meet him in the field, but he shall pursue them even to their strongest holds and cities, and shall pull them out thence. Possibly he may note some eminent city in which they confided most, their Metropolis or royal city as may be guessed from Psal. 60. 9.

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever .

From the top of Pisgah, which was exceeding high, and gave him the prospect of the parts of all these kingdomes.

Heb. the first fruits; so called either 1. because they were the first of all the neighbouring nations which were embodied together in one government: or 2. because they were the most powerful and eminent of them, as is implyed above, ver. 7. the best things in each kind being oft signified by the name of first-fruits. Or 3. because he was the first who fought against Israel and was vanquished by them, in that famous battel Exod. 17. which victory was an earnest and first-fruits of that large harvest of victories which the Israelites should in due time get over all their enemies, and among others, over Am[illegible: 1+ letters]k himself, 1 Sam. 15. 3.

He began with God and with Israel, but God will end with him, and the firm purpose and will of God is, that he shall be utterly destroyed, Exod. 17. 14. so that Saul lost his kingdom for not executing this decree and Gods command pursuant thereunto, 1 Sam. 15.

Marginal references: The first [illegible: 1 word] nations [illegible: 1 word] warred [illegible: 1 word] Israel, Exo▪; Or, [illegible: 1 word] even to [illegible: 1 word] o[illegible: 1+ letters].

21 And he looked on the Kenite , and took up his parable, and said, strong is thy dwelling-place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock:

The posterity or kindred of Iethro, not that part of them which dwelt among the Israelites, to whom the following words do not agree, but those of them who were mingled with the Amalekites and Midianites. See Exod. 3. 1. Iudg. 1. 16. and 4. 11. 1 Sam. 15. 6.

(i. e.) Thy dwelling-place, so called, either because it was in an high place, as nests commonly are: or from their security and confidence of continuing long and safe in it: See Iob 29. 18. or in allusion to their name, for ken in Hebrew signifies a nest.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 15. 6.

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted▪ untill Ashur shall carry thee away captive .

Heb. Kain, i. e. the Kenite, so called, either by a transposition of letters, which is very usual in the Hebrew tongue: or from the name of some eminent place where they lived, or person from whom they were descended, though now the memory of them be utterly lost, as it hath fared with innumerable other places and persons famous in their generations mentioned in antient heathen writers.

(i. e.) Shall be by degrees diminished and wasted by the incursions of divers enemies, till at last the Assyrian comes to compleat the work and carries them into captivity. For the Kenites lived partly among the ten tribes, Ios. 19. 33. compared with Iudg. 4. 11. and partly with the two tribes, Iudg. 1. 16. and 4. 16, 17. and were carried captive with them, part by Salmaneser, the king of Assyria, 2 King. 17. 6. and part by Nebuchadnezzar, who also is called an Assyrian, Ezra. 6. 22. Isa. 52. 4. The words may be rendred thus, shall be wasted. How long? to wit, shall they be thus wasted? (these particles being oft used abruptly and pathetically in the same manner, Psal. 6. 3. and 90. 13. Isa. 6. 11.) till Ashur comes, Ashur shall carry thee away captive.

Marginal references: Heb. Kain.; Or, how long shall it be ere Ashur carry thee away captive?

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas? who shall live when God doth this?

How calamitous and miserable will the state of the World be when the Assyrian and after him the Chaldean shall over-run and overturn all these parts of the World? who will be able to live and keep his heart from fainting under such grievous pressures? how few will then escape the destroying sword?

24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim , and shall afflict Ashur, and shall afflict Eber , and he also shall perish for ever.

A place or people so called from Chittim the son of Iavan, Gen. 10. 4. whose posterity were very numerous and were first seated in the lesser Asia, and from thence sent forth colonies into the islands of the Aegean sea, and into Cyprus, and afterwards into Macedonia and other parts of Greece, and then into Italy. Whence it comes to pass that by this name is understood sometimes Macedonia, as appears from 1 Macc. 1. 1. and 1 Macc. 8. 5. and sometimes Italy, as is manifest, from Dan. 11. 29, 30. and sometimes both, as in this place: for he speaks here of the scourge that God hath appointed for the Assyrian after he had done Gods work in punishing of his people and the bordering nations. Now although the Assyrian and Chaldean empire was subdued by the Medes and Persians, yet the chief afflictions and calamities of that people came from two hands, both beyond the sea and brought to them by ships, as is here expressed, first from the Grecians under Alexander and his successours, by whom that people were grievously oppressed and wasted; then from the Romans, who subdued all the Grecian empire, one great part whereof were the Assyrians largely so called and after many bloody wars made them a colony.

(i. e.) The posterity of [illegible: 1 word] Gen. 10. 24. the Hebrews, who were the chief and flower of Ebers children, and therefore are here designed by that general name, such general expressions being oft used concerning one particular and the most eminent of [illegible: 1+ letters]ts kind. And it pleased God to express it thus darkly here, because though he would foretell this for the comfort and instruction of his people in after ages, yet he would not have Balak nor Balaam neither, understand or utter any thing which might seem to thwart that happy estate of Israel, which Balaam clearly saw and openly applauded.

Not the Hebrews, as some understand, for his affliction was now mentioned before, and other Scriptures tell us they shall have a better end, and that all Israel shall be saved, and therefore not perish for ever, but the [illegible: 1+ letters] er or scourge of A[illegible: 1+ letters]hur and Eber, to wit, the Grecian and [illegible: 1 word] Empire.

25 And Balaam rose up, and went, and returned to his place : and Balak also went his way.

(i. e.) To Mesopotamia. Obj. He went onely to [illegible: 1 word]. where he was slain, Numb. 31. 8. A[illegible: 1+ letters]s. 1. He is said to return home, because he intended and began to do so, though he [illegible: 1 word] diverted by the Midianites: for men in Scripture are [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] to do what they design or attempt to do▪ as E[illegible: 1+ letters]d. 8. [illegible: 1 word]. Numb. 14. 40. Ans. 2. He did go home first▪ though [illegible: 1+ letters] wards he returned to the Midianites, either because the[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word] for him, or to recover his lost credit, and to do that [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] which he could not do by charmes▪ to which purpose he [illegible: 1 word] them that devilish counsel which was put in [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] and that by his advise, Numb. 31. 16. Rev. 2. 14.