Chapter 24:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 24
Concise Complete
Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness
of Israel. (1-9) Balak dismisses Balaam in anger. (10-14) Balaam's prophecies.
(15-25)
Verses 1-9 Now
Balaam spake not his own sense, but the language of the Spirit that came upon
him. Many have their eyes open who have not their hearts open; are enlightened,
but not sanctified. That knowledge which puffs men up with pride, will but serve
to light them to hell, whither many go with their eyes open. The blessing is
nearly the same as those given before. He admires in Israel, their beauty. The
righteous, doubtless, is more excellent than his neighbour. Their fruitfulness
and increase. Their honour and advancement. Their power and victory. He looks
back upon what had been done for them. Their power and victory. He looks back
upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. The righteous are
bold as a lion, not when assaulting others, but when at rest, because God maketh
them to dwell in safety. Their influence upon their neighbours. God takes what
is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to himself.
Verses 10-14
This vain attempt to curse Israel is ended. Balak broke out into a rage against
Balaam, and expressed great vexation. Balaam has a very full excuse; God
restrained him from saying what he would have said, and constrained him to say
what he would not have uttered.
Verses 15-25
Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretold the
future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boasts that his eyes
are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of
God, which many do who neither heed them, nor hear God in them. He knew the
knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet
utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the Most High and the
Almighty. No man could seem to express a greater respect to God; yet he had no
true fear of him, love to him, nor faith in him; so far a man may go toward
heaven, and yet come short of it at last. Here is Balaam's prophecy concerning
Him who should be the crown and glory of his people Israel; who is David in the
type; but our Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at, and of
him it is an illustrious prophecy. Balaam, a wicked man, shall see Christ, but
shall not see him nigh; not see him as Job, who saw him as his Redeemer, and saw
him for himself. When he comes in the clouds, every eye shall see him; but many
will see him, as the rich man in hell saw Abraham, afar off. He shall come out
of Jacob, and Israel, as a Star and a Sceptre; the former denoting his glory and
lustre; the latter his power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of
Jacob and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governed by
his golden sceptre, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod. Balaam prophesied
concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose country he had now in view.
Even a nest in a rock will not be a lasting security. Here is a prophecy that
looks as far forward as to the Greeks and Romans. He acknowledges all the
revolutions of states and kingdoms to be the Lord's doing. These events will
make such desolations, that scarcely any will escape. They that live then, will
be as brands plucked out of the fire. May God fit us for the worst of times!
Thus Balaam, instead of cursing the church, curses Amalek the first, and Rome
the last enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papal also;
antichrist and all the antichristian powers. Let us ask ourselves, Do we in
knowledge, experience, or profession, excel Balaam? No readiness of speech, even
in preaching or prayer, no gifts of knowledge or prophecy, are in themselves
different from, or superior to the boasted gifts of him who loved the wages of
unrighteousness, and died the enemy of God. Simple dependence on the Redeemer's
atoning blood and sanctifying grace, cheerful submission to the Divine will,
constant endeavours to glorify God and benefit his people, these are less
splendid, but far more excellent gifts, and always accompany salvation. No
boasting hypocrite ever possessed these; yet the feeblest believer has something
of them, and is daily praying for more of them.
Chapter 24:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
