Numbers 24:2 kjv
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.
Numbers 24:2 nkjv
And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Numbers 24:2 niv
When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
Numbers 24:2 esv
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
Numbers 24:2 nlt
where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,
Numbers 24 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:18 | Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more." | Balaam's professed limit by God's word |
| Num 23:3 | And he said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me... | Balaam's previous attempts at divination |
| Num 23:23 | For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’ | God's overcoming of pagan magic |
| Num 24:1 | When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to seek enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. | Balaam's shift from seeking enchantments |
| Deut 23:5 | Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you. | God's transformation of curse to blessing |
| 2 Sam 7:10 | I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. | God promises a secure dwelling for His people |
| 1 Chr 9:18 | Hitherto they were at the king's gate on the east, guard. These were the doorkeepers of the camp of the sons of Levi. | Israel's ordered tribal dwelling and camp |
| Psa 44:3 | For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You favored them. | Divine protection and favor for Israel |
| Isa 44:25 | who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish; | God's confounding of diviners and sorcerers |
| Jer 31:3 | I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with steadfast love I have drawn you. | God's unwavering love for Israel |
| Joel 2:28-29 | And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... | God's Spirit coming upon individuals |
| Acts 2:17-18 | ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... | Fulfillment of Joel's prophecy concerning the Spirit |
| 1 Cor 12:7, 11 | To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit... | Spirit of God bestows spiritual gifts and power |
| Eph 2:20-22 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple... | Church as a spiritual dwelling, ordered by Christ |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perish in Korah's rebellion. | Balaam's covetous heart despite prophetic gifting |
| Rev 2:14 | But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel... | Balaam's lasting negative influence through counsel |
| Gen 2:7 | Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. | "Spirit" (ruach) associated with life from God |
| Num 2:2 | The people of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard... | Command for Israel's orderly tribal encampment |
| Exod 25:8 | And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. | God's desire to dwell among His people |
| Lev 26:11-12 | I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God... | God's promise of His presence and fellowship |
| Josh 3:4 | Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. | Order and separation in the Israelite camp related to holiness |
Numbers 24 verses
Numbers 24 2 Meaning
Numbers 24:2 describes a pivotal moment where Balaam, having turned his gaze from divinatory practices, lifted his eyes and observed the nation of Israel. He saw them encampment, organized by their tribes, and immediately following this observation, the Spirit of God came upon him. This divine inspiration compelled him to deliver a true prophecy, revealing God's intention to bless Israel, a stark contrast to Moab's desire for a curse. It signifies God's sovereign control over even those who oppose His people, forcing them to speak His truth.
Numbers 24 2 Context
Numbers 24:2 is part of the third major oracle delivered by Balaam, the diviner from Pethor, to Balak, king of Moab. After Balak’s attempts to have Balaam curse Israel proved futile, as God consistently forced Balaam to bless them (Numbers 23). Balaam previously engaged in pagan rituals, seeking omens (Num 23:3, 15), to determine God's will or to gain prophetic insight. However, this verse marks a crucial turning point: Balaam abandons his former magical practices. Instead of seeking enchantments, he "set his face toward the wilderness" (Num 24:1) and simply "lifted up his eyes and saw" Israel in their divinely ordered encampment. It is at this point, observing God's people in their proper place, that the Spirit of God directly compels him, rendering his prior sorcery irrelevant and futile in the face of divine power. This direct divine intervention highlights God's absolute sovereignty over prophecy and His covenant commitment to Israel, directly challenging the perceived power of pagan gods and their practitioners.
Numbers 24 2 Word analysis
- And Balaam: Refers to the man hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet or diviner whose interaction with God is complex, oscillating between seeking genuine divine word and personal gain.
- lifted up his eyes (וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו - vayyiśśāʾ ʿênāw): A Hebrew idiom signifying intentional, focused observation, looking with careful attention or an active gaze. Here, it suggests a direct, physical act of looking rather than seeking spiritual omens. It signifies a shift from his prior practices of looking for omens or revelations in specific cultic settings (e.g., atop high places).
- and he saw (וַיַּרְא - vayyarʾ): The straightforward act of perceiving with sight. In this context, it contrasts with "seeking enchantments" (Num 24:1). What he saw was not a vision or omen, but the concrete reality of Israel.
- Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yiśrāʾēl): The chosen nation, the descendants of Jacob. The sight of them—God's covenant people—is crucial to the immediate context of the Spirit's descent.
- dwelling in their tents (שֹׁכֵן לִשְׁבָטָיו - shōkhēn lišvātāw): Literal dwelling, referring to their nomadic existence in the wilderness. The term shōkhēn is related to the word Mishkan (Tabernacle), often conveying a sense of resting or dwelling securely. This signifies Israel’s ordered and stable existence under God's protection.
- according to their tribes: Emphasizes the orderly, divinely-commanded arrangement of Israel's encampment (see Num 2-3). This structured formation, with the Tabernacle at the center, symbolizes God's presence, blessing, and covenantal order within their midst. It contrasts sharply with the chaos and lack of divine presence in pagan nations.
- and the Spirit of God (וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים - wəruach ʾĔlōhîm): The life-giving, empowering, and prophetic presence of God. This refers to the Ruach Elohim, the same Spirit of God present in creation (Gen 1:2) and bestowing gifts and strength on individuals in the Old Testament (e.g., Judges, Saul, David, prophets). It represents a divine intervention, distinct from human effort or pagan divination.
- came upon him (הָיְתָה עָלָיו - hâyĕtâ ʿālāw): Literally "was upon him" or "came upon him." This indicates a sudden, supernatural imposition or overshadowing, a clear mark of divine compulsion. Balaam was not seeking the Spirit here; the Spirit sovereignly came upon him, overriding his own will and preventing him from uttering a curse.
Word Groups Analysis
- "And Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw": This phrase highlights a fundamental shift. Balaam isn't seeking magical insight through omens as he did previously. Instead, he simply observes reality as presented before him – Israel’s visible encampment. His physical sight is then immediately linked to the Spirit's spiritual insight.
- "Israel dwelling in their tents according to their tribes": This is not just a general view of a nomadic camp. It highlights the structured, ordered, and unified presence of God's people. This order and the collective tribal arrangement were divinely mandated, signifying God's covenant presence and protection right in their midst (the Tabernacle was at the center). Balaam is seeing an ordered people, blessed by God, which God has separated and established.
- "and the Spirit of God came upon him": This is the climax. It signifies divine sovereignty. God's Spirit is not summoned by Balaam's previous divining methods, nor is it subject to human manipulation. Rather, the Spirit sovereignly takes control, transforming a would-be curser into an unwilling mouthpiece of divine blessing. This is a direct polemic against the efficacy of all pagan enchantments and omens; God’s power is absolute and independent.
Numbers 24 2 Bonus section
The passive voice ("the Spirit of God came upon him") is crucial, indicating Balaam's lack of control over the spiritual force. Unlike his prior attempts to gain access to divine knowledge through rituals and omens, here he is completely overwhelmed by a direct and sovereign act of God. This particular instance serves as a strong refutation of magic and divination. God reveals His truth through His chosen vessels or by directly intervening, demonstrating that divine will cannot be manipulated by human means or pagan practices. Balaam, the diviner, became a true prophet against his will at this moment, fulfilling God’s purposes despite his corrupt desires later (Jude 1:11, Rev 2:14). His prophetic utterances from this point are considered true prophecies by God.
Numbers 24 2 Commentary
Numbers 24:2 illustrates the supremacy of God's sovereign will and power over all human intentions and pagan practices. Balaam, a skilled diviner previously accustomed to seeking omens, is compelled by the Spirit of God itself. His change in method, from seeking enchantments to simply observing Israel, emphasizes that true prophecy originates solely from God's uncoerced revelation, not human effort or ritual. The sight of Israel's orderly, tribal encampment, a symbol of their unique identity and divine protection, triggers the Spirit's visitation. This shows that even a gentile prophet, hired to curse, must succumb to God’s Spirit when it decides to descend. God effectively silences Balaam's will and speaks through him, forcing a blessing where a curse was sought, unequivocally demonstrating that "there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel" (Num 23:23).