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Numbers 24

Num. 24:2 KJV (With Strong’s)

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2
And Balaam
Bil`am (Hebrew #1109)
not (of the) people, i.e. foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine
KJV usage: Balaam, Bileam.
Pronounce: bil-awm'
Origin: probably from 1077 and 5971
lifted up
nasa' (Hebrew #5375)
a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows)
KJV usage: accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+ man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.
Pronounce: naw-saw'
Origin: or nacah (Psalm 4 : 6 (7)) {naw-saw'}
his eyes
`ayin (Hebrew #5869)
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
KJV usage: affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
Pronounce: ah'-yin
Origin: probably a primitive word
, and he saw
ra'ah (Hebrew #7200)
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
KJV usage: advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
Pronounce: raw-aw'
Origin: a primitive root
Israel
Yisra'el (Hebrew #3478)
from 8280 and 410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel.
Pronounce: yis-raw-ale'
abiding
shakan (Hebrew #7931)
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
Pronounce: shaw-kan'
Origin: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to 7901 through the idea of lodging; compare 5531, 7925)
in his tents according to their tribes
shebet (Hebrew #7626)
a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
KJV usage: X correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
Pronounce: shay'-bet
Origin: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off
; andc the spirit
ruwach (Hebrew #7307)
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV usage: air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).
Pronounce: roo'-akh
Origin: from 7306
of God
'elohiym (Hebrew #430)
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
KJV usage: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
Pronounce: el-o-heem'
Origin: plural of 433
came upon him.
c
1 Sam. 10:10• 10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. (1 Sam. 10:10)

More on:

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Balaam,
God,
Israel,
Spirit,
Tent,
Tribe

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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abiding.
Num. 24:5• 5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,{HR}And thy tabernacles, O Israel! (Num. 24:5)
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Num. 2:2‑34• 2Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house; round about the tent of meeting, afar off, opposite to it shall they encamp.
 3On the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch their armies: and Nahshon the son of Aminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
 4And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.
 5And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
 6And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty-four thousand and four hundred.
 7Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab, the son of Elon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun;
 8and his host, even those that were numbered thereof, fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
 9All that were numbered of the camp of Judah were a hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their hosts. They shall set forth first.
 10On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben, and the prince of the sons of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur;
 11and his host, even those that were numbered thereof, forty-six thousand five hundred.
 12And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Simeon; and the prince of the sons of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
 13and his host, even those that were numbered of them, fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
 14And with them shall be the tribe of Gad; and the prince of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel;
 15and his host, even those that were numbered of them, forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.
 16All that were numbered of the camp of Reuben were a hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty, according to their hosts. And they shall set forth second.
 17The tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
 18The standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts shall be westward; and the prince of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud;
 19and his host, even those that were numbered of them, forty thousand five hundred.
 20And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and the prince of the sons of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
 21and his host, even those that were numbered of them, thirty-two thousand two hundred.
 22And with them shall be the tribe of Benjamin; and the prince of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni;
 23and his host, even those that were numbered of them, thirty-five thousand four hundred.
 24All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were a hundred and eight thousand one hundred, according to their hosts. And they shall set forth third.
 25The standard of the camp of Dan shall be northward according to their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
 26and his host, even those that were numbered of them, sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
 27And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher; and the prince of the sons of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran;
 28and his host, even those that were numbered of them, forty-one thousand five hundred.
 29And with them shall be the tribe of Naphtali; and the prince of the sons of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan;
 30and his host, even those that were numbered of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.
 31All that were numbered of the camp of Dan were a hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set forth last according to their standards.
 32These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers. All those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
 33But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
 34And the children of Israel did according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward every one after their families according to the house of their fathers. (Num. 2:2‑34)
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Num. 23:9‑10• 9For from the top of the rocks I see him,{HR}And from the hills I behold him:{HR}Lo, the people shall dwell alone,{HR}And shall not be reckoned among the nations.
 10Who can count the dust of Jacob,{HR}And the number of the fourth part of Israel?{HR}Let me die the death of the righteous,{HR}And let my last end be like his! (Num. 23:9‑10)
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Song of Sol. 6:4,10• 4Thou [art] fair, my love, as Tirzah,{HR}Comely as Jerusalem,{HR}Terrible as bannered [hosts].
 10Who [is] she [that] looketh forth as the dawn,{HR}Fair as the moon,{HR}Clear as the sun,{HR}Terrible as bannered [hosts]? (Song of Sol. 6:4,10)
the spirit.
Num. 11:25‑29• 25And Jehovah came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy men, the elders; and it came to pass, that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not repeat it.
 26And two men remained in the camp, the name of the one, Eldad, and the name of the other, Medad; and the Spirit rested upon them (and they were among them that were written, but they had not gone out to the tent); and they prophesied in the camp.
 27And there ran a youth, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.
 28And Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them!
 29But Moses said to him, Enviest thou for my sake? would that all Jehovah's people were prophets, and that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them! (Num. 11:25‑29)
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1 Sam. 10:10• 10And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. (1 Sam. 10:10)
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1 Sam. 19:20,23• 20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
 23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. (1 Sam. 19:20,23)
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2 Chron. 15:1• 1And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. (2 Chron. 15:1)
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Matt. 7:22• 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many works of power? (Matt. 7:22)
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Matt. 10:4,8• 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas the Iscariote, who also delivered him up.
 8Heal [the] infirm, [raise the dead], cleanse lepers, cast out demons: ye have received gratuitously, give gratuitously. (Matt. 10:4,8)
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Luke 10:20• 20Yet in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you; but rejoice rather that your names are written in the heavens. (Luke 10:20)
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John 11:49‑51• 49But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest of that year, said to them, Ye know nothing,
 50nor reckon that it is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.
 51Now this he said not from himself, but, being high priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, (John 11:49‑51)
• {v.1-2} The justification of the people being now declared, the Spirit of God can bear testimony to them, instead of confining His testimony to the thoughts and intentions of God. Balaam sees them from above; seeing the vision of the Almighty, {v.2} he sees the people according to the thoughts of the Spirit of God, as seen in the mind of God from above. (“Numbers 22-25” by J.N. Darby)
• The people were not yet in Canaan in restful possession of every promised blessing, they were still in the desert-wastes. When we examine the New Testament epistles we find wonderful descriptions of God's saints, not only as they will be in heavenly glory eternally, but as they are today while in this evil world! God sees His saints as “in Christ,” and faith says exultingly, “as He is, so we are in this world” (1 John 4:17). (“The Beauty and Order of God's People” by W.W. Fereday)
• “The Spirit of God came upon him.” This may startle some, who may not have learned the distinction of being born of the Spirit, and subsequently and forever indwelt by the Spirit, and the Spirit of God coming upon an individual....This is the sovereign act of God, irrespective of conversion. Thus the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Othniel (Judg. 3:10); and upon Azariah the prophet in the days of Asa (2 Chron. 15:1). These were true saints, but we also read that the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and even upon the King himself (1 Sam. 19:20-24). None of these were saints, for murder was in their hearts at the time. In 2 Chronicles 35:21 we find God admonishing the pious (but misguided) King Josiah by the instrumentality of the pagan King of Egypt. (“The Beauty and Order of God's People” by W.W. Fereday)
• Balaam's third parable is very full. He is describing the beauty, order and blessedness of the people from Jehovah's point of view. Here is a sketch of it:— What unity! “The tribes” (vs. 2). What order! “Abiding.. according to their tribes” (vs. 2). What beauty! “Valleys;” “Gardens” (vs. 4). What fragrance! “Aloes” (vs. 6). What dignity! “Cedars” (vs. 6). What sufficiency! “Beside the waters” (vs. 6). What overflowing! “Water out of buckets” (vs. 7). What power! “Unicorn” (vs. 8); “Lion” (vs. 9). (“The Beauty and Order of God's People” by W.W. Fereday)
• What Unity! The twelve tribes were still one whole. The breach which took place after the death of Solomon has not been healed to this day. The tribes will be regathered by the sound of the trumpet at the appearing of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 24:31; Isa. 21:13). It will then be said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psa. 133:1). (“The Beauty and Order of God's People” by W.W. Fereday)
• What Order! Balaam saw Israel abiding in tents “according to their tribes. “Our God is a God of order. When the five thousand were fed they were not allowed to drop down upon the grass as they pleased; the Lord Jesus said “make them sit down by fifties in a company” (Luke 9:14). Israel's camp in the wilderness was planned by Jehovah Himself. The tribes were arranged around the Tabernacle in four groups of three each, under their respective standards (Num. 2). Even so in the body of Christ every member has been divinely placed and furnished from the infinite resources of the Head in heaven with all that is needful for the blessing and development of the whole. (“The Beauty and Order of God's People” by W.W. Fereday)

J. N. Darby Translation

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And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling in tents according to his tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

W. Kelly Translation

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