“And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. to seek: Heb. to the meeting of”
Cross references: : Num. 23:3 , 15 Where the Israelites camped.
“And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: whose: Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened”
Num. 23:7 , 18 His eyes were shut up before in respect of the clear visions which he saw after: some read, were open.
“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:”
Though he lay as in a sleep, yet the eyes of his mind were open.
“He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.”
Which name was common to the kings of Amalek. His prosperity and posterity shall be very great.
“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.”
Thus the wicked burden God when they cannot compass their wicked enterprises.
“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 days.”
Hebrew, counsel . He gave also wicked counsel to cause the Israelites to sin, that thereby God might forsake them, Num. 31:16 .
“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth . smite: or, smite through the princes of”
Meaning, Christ. That is, the princes. He shall subdue all that resist: for of Sheth came Noah, and of Noah all the world.
“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. the nations: the nations that warred against Israel that: or, even to destruction”
The Amalekites first made war against Israel, as Num. 14:45 .
“And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.”
Or, Midianites. Make thyself as strong as thou canst.
“And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!”
Some read, Oh who shall not perish when the enemy that is, Antichrist , shall set himself up as God?
“And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.”
Meaning, Eber, or the Jews for rebelling against God. The Grecians and Romans.