Study Desk

And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him.

He took up his [third] discourse (oracle) and said: "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened [at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God],

The oracle of one who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,

"God brought Israel out of Egypt; Israel has strength like the wild ox; He will devour [Gentile] nations, his adversaries (enemies), And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.

"He bowed down [to rest], he lies down as a lion; And as a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed [of God] is he who blesses you, And cursed [of God] is he who curses you."

The oracle of him who hears the words of God And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:

Then he took up his [seventh] discourse (oracle) and said: "Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?

Israel settled and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the prostitute with the women of Moab [by being unfaithful to God].

'And it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous (impassioned) for [the unique honor and respect owed to] his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.'"

The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan [were judged by God and] died in the land of Canaan.

But Nadab and Abihu died [in the presence of God] when they offered [in their ceremonial censers] strange [unholy, unacceptable, unauthorized] fire before the LORD.

"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

"The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough on this mountain.

'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and look, today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven.

'May the LORD, the God of your fathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, just as He has promised you!

"Then we set out from Horeb (Sinai), and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, just as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.

"And I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the LORD our God is about to give us.

'Behold, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and take possession of it, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'

"Then they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they reported back to us, and said, 'It is a good land which the LORD our God is about to give us.'

"Yet you were not willing to go up [to take possession of it], but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God.