King Balak of Moab, if anything, was determined (obsessed) to decimate the Jews. To do the hit job, he
hired Balaam, a man whose prophetic powers were quite proficient. In the blog in chapter 23, we cited
Abravanel’s opinion that God graced Balaam with four prophecies. In Numbers 24 we address Balaam’s
third prophecy concerning the Hebrews.
“And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe.
And the spirit of God came upon him.”
This message emanating from Heaven foreshadowed more about the Jewish nation. They would dwell in
their land and procreate prolifically. The Temple will be erected; they will institute a monarchy and
prevail over Agag, king of Amalek. Especially during the epochs of Kings David and Solomon, both
kingships would prosper and vault to heretofore unknown heights and power.
“How comely are your tents, O Jacob, your habitations, O Israel.” Different eras in Jewish history are
being depicted and praised. The first one, when the Jews trekked in the desert, sketches life in tents.
Still, those tents contributed to the comeliness of the camp and camp formation. Later, while in Israel,
their homes were part of lovely landscaped neighborhoods and cities.
The nation’s beauty and grace resembled stately waterways, “Like outstretched rivers, like pastures
along streams.” Instead of likening the people to this water-filled, verdant and pastoral imagery, they
may be describing the Hebrews’ tents in the desert, and later, regal Jewish estates in Canaan. If we
subscribe to this latter explanation, then we provide four additional details to the Hebrew’s dwellings.
- They were spacious
- They were handsomely designed and decorated
- They were built on firm foundations to prevent collapse
- They were multistory dwellings, not stumpy
Balaam’s unabashed paean continued. “They crouch as a lion, as a lioness; who will arouse them?”
Taking all the adulation of the Hebrews together, Balaam’s conclusion emerges. “Those who
bless you are blessed. And those who curse you are cursed.” The concluding phrase had
been a not-so-subtle hint to Balak that he resign himself to reality and desist from further
attempts to alter it. If the king did not want to see his kingdom go up in smoke, he’d better
walk away now. As for the prophet, he throws in his lot with the blessed ones, thereby
gaining for himself the same.
A cheerless Balak berated the distinguished messenger for having said, in so many words,
that he was accursed. At that insinuation, the king clapped his hands together and told
Balaam, “…to curse my enemy, I have engaged you. And behold you have blessed them
three times.” Balak reminded the prophet of having been summoned to him. Namely, he
hired him to curse and malign Israel, his enemy. Balaam further heard the distraught
monarch tell him that if he hadn’t intended to oblige him, then he should never have come.
An outrage had been perpetrated. Seemingly, he showed up only to bless them. Seething,
Balak accused Balaam of sabotage and sedition. Blame lay solely with the Midianite
prophet. Attributing this affront to God was flapdoodle, Balak charged.
“Now just scram. Go home.” Balaam’s shenanigans had cast a pall upon the Moabite princes
and the rank and file. Their despondency, the king revealed, might even lead them to kill
the impudent Balaam. Dallying around would not be a good idea. The king had more to say
as he escorted Balaam on his way, but the point is clear. Thus summarizes Balaam’s third
prophecy, according to Abravanel.
