Numbers 24:20

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹⁵Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, "This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, ¹⁶the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: ¹⁷I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. ¹⁸Edom will become a possession, Seir will be owned by his enemies, but Israel will perform with valor. ¹⁹A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city." ²⁰Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: "Amalek was first among the nations, but his end shall be destruction."²¹Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: "Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff. ²²Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive." ²³Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: "Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it? ²⁴Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the first of the nations: or, the first of the nations that warred against Israel, Exodus 17:8, Exodus 17:16

his latter end: Judges 6:3, 1 Samuel 14:48, 1 Samuel 15:3-8, 1 Samuel 27:8, 1 Samuel 27:9, 1 Samuel 30:1, 1 Samuel 30:17, 1 Chronicles 4:43, Esther 3:1, Esther 7:9, Esther 7:10, Esther 9:14

shall be that he perish for ever: or, shall be even to destruction, Exodus 17:14, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:7 - Amalekites Numbers 13:29 - Amalekites Deuteronomy 4:30 - in the latter Deuteronomy 25:17 - General 1 Samuel 15:2 - Amalek 2 Samuel 1:8 - an Amalekite 2 Peter 2:20 - the latter

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when he looked on Amalek,.... The country of Amalek, which lay to the south of the land of Canaan, Numbers 13:29 and which Balaam had a view of from the mountain of Peor, where he now was:

and he took up his parable, and said; the parable of his prophecy, as the Targum of Jonathan, and pronounced it aloud:

Amalek was the first of the nations; not the first nation in the world, nor the chief and principal for numbers, riches, or strength, but the first that made war with Israel, as all the three Targums paraphrase it, as they did, see Exodus 17:8,

but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever; this was threatened to them by the Lord upon that battle, and is confirmed by this prophecy of Balaam: and after this, orders were given to Israel to blot out their remembrance, Deuteronomy 25:19, and which, in a good measure, though not completely, was done in the times of Saul, 1 Samuel 15:8 and after that they were distressed by David, 1 Samuel 27:9 and the rest of them were smitten by the sons of Simeon, in the days of Hezekiah, 1 Chronicles 4:41, after which we hear of them no more: Amalek may be considered as a type of antichrist, the son of perdition, who shall go into it, shall come to his end, and there shall be none to help him; which will be true of all the antichristian party, the enemies of Christ, who will be destroyed by him, and perish eternally; see Daniel 11:45.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When he looked - i. e., in spirit, as he saw the Star Numbers 24:17.

Amalek was the first of the nations - Rather, is pre-eminent among the neighboring nations: compare the same expression in Amos 6:1. Hence, the force of the words Numbers 24:7 “higher than Agag,” i. e., than the king of this powerful nation (compare Numbers 14:45; Exodus 17:8). This rank, due to the warlike prowess of the tribe, Balaam contrasts with its approaching downfall and extinction.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 24:20. Amalek was the first of the nations — The most ancient and most powerful of all the nations or states then within the view of Balaam; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever, or his posterity אחריתו acharitho, shall be destroyed, or shall utterly fail. This oracle began to be fulfilled by Saul, 1 Samuel 15:7-8, who overthrew the Amalekites, and took their king, Agag, prisoner. Afterwards they were nearly destroyed by David, 1 Samuel 27:8, and they were finally exterminated by the sons of Simeon in the days of Hezekiah, 1 Chronicles 4:41-43; since that time they have ceased to exist as a people, and now no vestige of them remains on the face of the earth; so completely is their posterity cut off, according to this prophecy. The marginal reading does not appear to give the proper sense.