Numbers 29, The High Holy Days

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

We continue to describe sacred festivals that will be given in the new land.

Numbers 29:1-6, Rosh Hashanah

"`On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. As an aroma pleasing to the LORD, prepare a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the LORD by fire--a pleasing aroma.

The Feast of Trumpets is the same as Rosh Hashanah. This is the beginning of the High Holy Days in the seventh month of the liturgical year.

Numbers 29:7-11, Day of Atonement

"`On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work. Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is the most holy of the Jewish festivals.

Numbers 29:12-16, Festival of Tabernacles

 "`On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each of the thirteen bulls prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

The Festival of Booths, sometimes called the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, ends the weeks of High Holy Days.

Numbers 29:17-19, The second day

"`On the second day prepare twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular  burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

The second day of the feast involves twelve young bulls.

Numbers 29:20-22, The third day

"`On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

The third day of the feast involves eleven young bulls. The number of bulls goes down as the days progress. (One is reminded of The Twelve Days of Christmas....)

Numbers 29:23-38, Eight days of sacrifices

"`On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

 

"`On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without  defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

"`On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

"`On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.  With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

"`On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work. Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.With the bull, the ram and the lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings  according to the number specified. Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

The festival ends after eight days. That eighth day, like the first day of the festival, and also like Rosh Hashanah, there is to be no work.

Numbers 29:39, Additional offerings

"`In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, prepare these for the LORD at your appointed feasts: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.'"

Much of this chapter echoes Leviticus 23:23-43.

Numbers 29:40, Moses obeys

Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him.

As commanded, Moses passes on these instructions to the people of Israel.

First published October 3, 2025; updated October 3, 2025

Numbers 28, Special Offerings

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

Moses will be succeeded by Joshua. The people prepare to enter the land. We now have some more sacrifices and offerings. (I think some of this will be repeated in Deuteronomy.)

Numbers 28:1-8, Two lambs without defect

 The LORD said to Moses,"Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: `See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.' Say to them: `This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. Prepare one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives.

This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the LORD at the sanctuary. Prepare the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you prepare in the morning. This is an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

A lamb sacrifice and drink offering are described.

Numbers 28:9-10, Sabbath offering

"`On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The Sabbath day is to include another offering.

Numbers 28:11-15, First of the month

"`On the first of every month, present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. With each bull there is to be a drink offering of half a hin of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year. Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering.

The monthly offering, involving young bulls, is described.

Numbers 28:16-23, The Passover

"`On the fourteenth day of the first month the LORD's Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering.

In this way prepare the food for the offering made by fire every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the LORD; it is to be prepared in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

Another special sacrifice occurs on the Passover.

Numbers 28:26-31, Firstfruits

"`On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the LORD an offering of new grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, o ne ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the LORD.With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat to make atonement for you. Prepare these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.

The Feast of First Fruits, sometimes called the Festival of Weeks, follows the Passover.

This chapter echoes the material in Leviticus 23:4-22.

First published October 2, 2025; updated October 2, 2025

Numbers 27, Two Questions of Succession

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

As the Israelites approach the invasion of Canaan, two questions arise.

1. Since land will be distributed by tribes and families, and inheritance passes down through the male line, what happens to families with only daughters?
2. Who will follow Moses as leader?

Numbers 27:1-4, Five daughters

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said, "Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives."

What happens if a man has only daughters? How, in a patriarchal society, is his name preserved?

Numbers 27:5-11, Zelophehad's daughters to inherit

So Moses brought their case before the LORD and the LORD said to him, "What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their father's inheritance over to them.

"Say to the Israelites, `If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter.
 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. 

This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"

The daughters are to inherit property among their father's relatives. This account will be expanded and completed in Numbers 36.

Numbers 27:12-14, Look upon future Israel

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

Moses is instructed to hike up a mountain in the Abarim range and gaze on the future land of Israel.

Numbers 27:15-17, Leadership succession

Moses said to the LORD, "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

Moses asks for a successor.

Numbers 27:18-21, Joshua

So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."

The successor to Moses will be Joshua, who proved himself forty years prior and who has presumably continue to serve well.

Numbers 27:22-23, Joshua commissioned

Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses.

Moses and Eleazar commission Joshua, laying their hands on him.

First published October 1, 2025; updated October 1, 2025

Numbers 26, A Second Census

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

In Numbers 1, a census is taken of the Israelites, a year after they have left Egypt. Now, forty years and a generation later, another census is taken.

This event occurs after a plague associated with Moabite sex and idolatry in the previous chapter.

Numbers 26:1-2, Instructions for a new census

After the plague the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families--all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel."

The census woll be of males who are at least twenty years old.

Numbers 26:3-11, Start with Reuben

So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, "Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the LORD commanded Moses." 

These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt: The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanoch, the Hanochite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan; through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Carmi, the Carmite clan.

 

These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730. The son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah's followers when they rebelled against the LORD. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. 

The line of Korah, however, did not die out.

The census begins with the tribe of Reuben, some of whom died in Korah's rebellion.

Numbers 26:12-14, Simeon

The descendants of Simeon by their clans were: through Nemuel, the Nemuelite clan; through Jamin, the Jaminite clan; through Jakin, the Jakinite clan; through Zerah, the Zerahite clan; through Shaul, the Shaulite clan. These were the clans of Simeon; there were 22,200 men.

Next is the tribe of Simeon. The population change here, from Numbers 1, is drastic, a decline of 37,100, almost two-thirds of the earlier population. The tribe of Simeon will later be absorbed into the tribe of Judah. No explanation for this decline now, or later, is given.

Numbers 26:15-18, Gad

The descendants of Gad by their clans were: through Zephon, the Zephonite clan; through Haggi, the Haggite clan; through Shuni, the Shunite clan; through Ozni, the Oznite clan; through Eri, the Erite clan through Arodi, the Arodite clan; through Areli, the Arelite clan. These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500.

After numbering Simeon, we turn to a census of Gad...

Numbers 26:19-22, Judah

Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan. The descendants of Judah by their clans were: through Shelah, the Shelanite clan; through Perez, the Perezite clan; through Zerah, the Zerahite clan. The descendants of Perez were: through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Hamul, the Hamulite clan. These were the clans of Judah; those numbered were 76,500.

... and Judah ...

Numbers 26:23-25, Issachar

The descendants of Issachar by their clans were: through Tola, the Tolaite clan; through Puah, the Puite clan; through Jashub, the Jashubite clan; through Shimron, the Shimronite clan. These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300.

... Issachar ...

Numbers 26:26--27, Zebulun

The descendants of Zebulun by their clans were: through Sered, the Seredite clan; through Elon, the Elonite clan; through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan. These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.

... Zebulun ...

Numbers 26:28-37, Joseph via Manasseh and Ephraim 

The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:

The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan. These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan; through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan; through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan. (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.)

    

These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700. These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan; through Beker, the Bekerite clan; through Tahan, the Tahanite clan. These were the descendants of Shuthelah: through Eran, the Eranite clan. These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

... then the two tribes descending from Joseph ...

Numbers 26:38-41, Benjamin

The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were: through Bela, the Belaite clan; through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan; through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan; through Shupham, the Shuphamite clan; through Hupham, the Huphamite clan. The descendants of Bela through Ard and Naaman were: through Ard, the Ardite clan; through Naaman, the Naamite clan. These were the clans of Benjamin; those numbered were 45,600.

... followed by Benjamin ...

Numbers 26:42-43, Dan

These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan: All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

... and Dan ...

Numbers 26:44-47, Asher

The descendants of Asher by their clans were: through Imnah, the Imnite clan; through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan; through Beriah, the Beriite clan; and through the descendants of Beriah: through Heber, the Heberite clan; through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan. (Asher had a daughter named Serah.) These were the clans of Asher; those numbered were 53,400.

... Asher ...

Numbers 26:48-51, Naphtali

The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were: through Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan; through Guni, the Gunite clan; through Jezer, the Jezerite clan; through Shillem, the Shillemite clan. These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400. The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.

...and finally, Naphtali.

Numbers 26:52-56, Plans to distribute the land

The LORD said to Moses,"The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups."

The land would be distributed by lot, based on size of the tribe.

Numbers 26:57-65, Levites

These were the Levites who were counted by their clans: through Gershon, the Gershonite clan; through Kohath, the Kohathite clan; through Merari, the Merarite clan.

These also were Levite clans: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, the Korahite clan. (Kohath was the forefather of Amram; the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam.

Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the LORD with unauthorized fire.) All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them. These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the desert, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

The final count will be of the Levites, which are set aside to serve the tabernacle, without inherited land.

The census taken gives numbers close to those of Number 1, but not equal to them. Here is a chart of the differences, taken from this webpage.

From https://inspiredscripture.com/bible-studies/numbers-26

First published September 30, 2025; updated September 30, 2025

Numbers 25, Moabite Women

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

After the strange story of Balak's attempt to curse Israel, we have a threat from another direction: sex seduces men into idolatry.

Numbers 25:1-3, Sex and idolatry

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods.

So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them.

The Moabite women invite Israelite men into sexual immorality. Worse than the sexual seduction is the idolatry the follows. (In Numbers 31:14-18 we learn that this attack may have been promoted by Balak.)

Numbers 25:4-5, Idolatry punished by death

The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."

       

So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."
       

The idolatry, worshiping Baal of Peor, must be punished with death.

Numbers 25:6-9, Brazen act

Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them--through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.
 

One man brazenly takes a woman into his tent for sex, even as Moses is condemning the act. Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, immediately grabs a spear and drives it through both the man and the woman. This stops a plague (previously unmentioned.) The Midianite woman is the daughter of Zur; Zur is described in Numbers 31:8 as one of five kings of Midian. Between the account here and that of Numbers 31, we can assume that the sex and idolatry was a deliberate scheme to divert the Israelite worship of YHWH.

Numbers 25:10-13, Praise of Phinehas

 The LORD said to Moses, "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

 

Phinehas is praised for his quick action.

Numbers 25:14-15, Culprits named

The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

The couple who engaged in this brazen act are named. The man was in the line of Simeon. The woman was a daughter of a tribal Moabite chieftan.

Numbers 25:16-18, Destroy the Midianites

The LORD said to Moses,"Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them, because they treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the affair of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of Peor."

Because of this event and the worship of Peor, the Midianites are viewed as enemies and must be killed. (The real sin here is idolatry, an idolatry led on by sex.)

First published September 29, 2025; updated September 29, 2025

Numbers 24, Oracles of Balaam

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

Balak and princes of Moab and Midian have been trying to get Balaam to curse Israel. We now have a third oracle by Balaam.

Numbers 24:1-9, Third oracle

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at other times, but turned his face toward the desert. When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him and he uttered his oracle: 

"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, 

the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, 

the oracle of one who hears the words of God, 

who sees a vision from the Almighty, 

who falls prostrate, 

and whose eyes are opened:

          

"How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, 

your dwelling places, O Israel! 

"Like valleys they spread out, 

like gardens beside a river, 

like aloes planted by the LORD, 

like cedars beside the waters. 

Water will flow from their buckets;

 their seed will have abundant water. 

"Their king will be greater than Agag; 

their kingdom will be exalted. "

God brought them out of Egypt; 

they have the strength of a wild ox. 

They devour hostile nations 

and break their bones in pieces; 

with their arrows they pierce them

. Like a lion they crouch and lie down, 

like a lioness--who dares to rouse them? 

"May those who bless you be blessed 

and those who curse you be cursed!"

This third oracle blesses Israel and praises their God for rescuing and empowering them. Of course this is not what Balak wanted.

Numbers 24:10-14, Didn't I tell you?

Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.  Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."
  

Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, `Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'? Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come."

Balaam responds to Balak's anger and then tells Balak that he has some more oracles.

Numbers 24:15-19, A star out of Jacob

Then he uttered his oracle: 

"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, 

the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,

          the oracle of one who hears the words of God, 

who has knowledge from the Most High, 

who sees a vision from the Almighty, 

who falls prostrate, 

and whose eyes are opened:

        "I see him, but not now; 

I behold him, but not near. 

A star will come out of Jacob;

 a scepter will rise out of Israel. 

He will crush the foreheads of Moab,

 the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.

         Edom will be conquered; 

Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, b

ut Israel will grow strong.

         A ruler will come out of Jacob 

and destroy the survivors of the city."

Balaam continues to prophecy. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter out of Israel. Israel will conquer and rule.

Numbers 24:20, An oracle on Amalek

Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle: 

"Amalek was first among the nations, 

but he will come to ruin at last."

Amalek will be destroyed, says Balaam.

Numbers 24:21-22, An curse on the Kenites

Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle: 

"Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;

          yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive."

In the same way, the Kenites too will be defeated. 

Numbers 24:23-24, Even the ships of Kittim

Then he uttered his oracle: 

"Ah, who can live when God does this?

          Ships will come from the shores of Kittim;

 they will subdue Asshur and Eber,

 but they too will come to ruin."

Even ships from the shores of Kittim will be defeated.

Numbers 24:25, The end

Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.

After his series of prophetic oracles, all announcing the coming power of Israel, Balaam then goes home.

First published September 27, 2025; updated September 27, 2025

Numbers 23, Balaam Refuses Balak

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

Balak and princes of Moab and Midian are expecting Balaam to curse Israel.

Numbers 23:1-6, Seven altars

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
   

Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
      

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height.
         

God met with him, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram." 

The LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this message." So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the princes of Moab.

Seven altars with bulls and rams, are prepared. But Balaam's "curse" will not be what the elders of Moab and Midian expect.

Numbers 23:7-10, Balaam's oracle

Then Balaam uttered his oracle: 

"Balak brought me from Aram, 

the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. 

`Come,' he said, `curse Jacob for me;

come, denounce Israel.'

        

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? 

How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? 

From the rocky peaks I see them, 

from the heights I view them. 

I see a people who live apart 

and do not consider themselves one of the nations. 

Who can count the dust of Jacob 

or number the fourth part of Israel? 

Let me die the death of the righteous, 

and may my end be like theirs!"

Balaam's oracle praise the might of the people of Israel, protected by YHWH

Numbers 23:11-15, Balak's anger and new plans

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!"

He answered, "Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will see only a part but not all of them. And from there, curse them for me." So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there."

Balak confronts Balaam, who replies that he can only say what YHWH tells him to say. So Balak prepares to have Balaam make a new prophecy in a new place

Numbers 23:16-24, A second oracle

The LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said, "Go back to Balak and give him this message."
      

So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him, "What did the LORD say?"
     

Then he uttered his oracle: 

"Arise, Balak, and listen;

hear me, son of Zippor.

 God is not a man, that he should lie, 

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

 Does he speak and then not act? 

Does he promise and not fulfill?

 I have received a command to bless;

he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

      

"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, 

no misery observed in Israel.

The LORD their God is with them;

 the shout of the King is among them. 

God brought them out of Egypt; 

they have the strength of a wild ox. 

There is no sorcery against Jacob, 

no divination against Israel. 

It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 

`See what God has done!' 

The people rise like a lioness; 

they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest 

till he devours his prey 

and drinks the blood of his victims."

Balaam's second oracle is much like the first.

Numbers 23:25-30, Then say nothing at all!

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!"

     

Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?"
      

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there." And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
      

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
         

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balak tells Balaam, "If you can't say something bad about Israel then don't say anything! But we will have one more sacrifice and one more oracle,

First published September 26, 2025; updated September 26, 2025