Numbers 24 22

Numbers 24:22 kjv

Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

Numbers 24:22 nkjv

Nevertheless Kain shall be burned. How long until Asshur carries you away captive?"

Numbers 24:22 niv

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

Numbers 24:22 esv

Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive."

Numbers 24:22 nlt

But the Kenites will be destroyed
when Assyria takes you captive."

Numbers 24 verses

Numbers 24 22 Meaning

Numbers 24:22 conveys Balaam's divinely inspired prophecy that the Kenites, despite their initial security, would ultimately face utter diminishment and destruction. Their desolation is prophesied to culminate in their forceful deportation by the mighty Assyrian Empire, thereby illustrating God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations and the ultimate fate of all peoples.

Numbers 24 22 Context

Numbers 24:22 is a pivotal verse within Balaam's final and most expansive set of oracles, specifically the fourth and longest one (Numbers 24:15-25). Having been hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel, Balaam is repeatedly compelled by the Spirit of God to pronounce blessings instead. In this concluding oracle, after foretelling a future king of Israel and the subjugation of Moab and Edom, Balaam shifts his focus to the destiny of other surrounding nations, including the Amalekites (v. 20) and the Kenites (v. 21-22), and then future powers like Asshur and Kittim (v. 23-24).

The immediate preceding verse, Numbers 24:21, highlights the Kenites' secure dwelling, their "nest...set in the rock." Verse 22 then contrasts this apparent security with a grim prediction of their ultimate downfall. This prophecy is remarkable for its historical foresight, naming "Asshur" (Assyria), a regional power that would not achieve its terrifying imperial dominance—characterized by forced deportations—for several centuries after the likely period of Moses and Balaam. The oracle thus serves to magnify God's sovereignty, demonstrating His meticulous plan for global history and His control over both covenant people and pagan nations, often using the latter as instruments of His judgment.

Numbers 24 22 Word analysis

• Nevertheless: Hebrew: וְכִי (wᵉkhî). This particle can introduce a strong assertion or a concession, often translated as "and yet," "but indeed," or "for surely." Here, it marks a sudden transition, highlighting a contrasting and decisive fate for the Kenites despite the initial depiction of their secure dwelling in the preceding verse. It sets apart the judgment that follows.
• the Kenite: Hebrew: קֵינִי (Qeyniy). Refers to the people or clan descended from Cain (Qayin). They were a nomadic tribe, often associated with the Midianites and Amalekites. While some Kenites (like Jethro's family) allied with Israel and adopted elements of their faith, the name signifies a distinct, non-Israelite group whose destiny is here separated from Israel's promised endurance. Their name may also suggest a connection to "metalworkers" (related to Hebrew for "forge" or "spear").
• shall be wasted: Hebrew: בָּעֵר (ba'er), specifically a Hiphil imperfect form of ba'ar. This strong verb conveys the sense of "to consume," "to burn," "to sweep away," "to destroy utterly," or "to utterly remove." It implies a process of total and definitive eradication or dissolution, not just a temporary setback or defeat. It suggests their identity and presence would be entirely eliminated from the landscape.
• until: Hebrew: עַד (ʿad). This preposition serves as a temporal marker, meaning "up to," "until," or "as far as." It indicates that the process of being "wasted" will continue and culminate at the point specified—the arrival of Asshur. It shows a definitive end-point to their existence as an independent entity.
• Asshur: Hebrew: אַשּׁוּר (Ashshur). This refers to the nation of Assyria and its empire. At the probable time of Balaam (15th-13th century BCE), Assyria was a nascent or regional power, not yet the dominant, conquering empire known for its ruthless military campaigns and systematic population deportations. The mention of Asshur by name here centuries before its imperial zenith profoundly highlights the predictive, divinely-inspired nature of Balaam's prophecy.
• shall carry thee away captive: Hebrew: יִשְׁבֶּךָ (yishbekha). This is the Qal imperfect of shavah, meaning "to take captive," "to lead away," or "to deport." The suffix "-ka" ("thee" or "you") refers to the Kenite. This phrase precisely describes the characteristic Assyrian policy of mass deportation, removing conquered peoples from their lands to prevent rebellion and serve imperial aims. It signifies the end of their communal and territorial identity.
• Words-group: "Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive." This phrase connects the Kenites' initial security with their ultimate desolation through a specific agent. It conveys a clear progression of their decline, culminating in their forceful displacement by a future superpower. This highlights divine oversight over global history, demonstrating that the trajectory of all nations—even those seemingly small or obscure like the Kenites—is guided by God's overarching plan, which includes using pagan empires as instruments for His purposes and for establishing new eras of history.

Numbers 24 22 Bonus section

• The Specificity of Prophecy: The naming of "Asshur" (Assyria) centuries before its rise as a global power with its distinctive deportation policy is a powerful indicator of the genuinely predictive nature of biblical prophecy, contrasting with general or hindsight predictions common in ancient pagan divination. It testifies to the unique foresight of Yahweh.
• Kenite Paradox: The Kenites had an intricate, sometimes allied relationship with Israel, notably through Moses' father-in-law Jethro, and even received special consideration from Saul in 1 Samuel 15:6. Yet, this prophecy details their eventual demise, suggesting that tribal identity and even occasional alliance with Israel did not equate to a share in Israel's eternal covenant security and future. This highlights a critical distinction between those merely associated with God's people and those fully in covenant with Him.
• Divine Orchestration of World Powers: This verse subtly foreshadows the broader biblical theme of God raising up and casting down empires (e.g., Pharaoh, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome). Assyria is depicted here as an instrument in God's plan, executing judgment upon others, a theme reiterated later by prophets like Isaiah who call Assyria "the rod of [God's] anger" (Isa 10:5).
• Transience of Earthly Security: The contrast between the Kenites' dwelling "in the rock" (v. 21) and their eventual captivity by Assyria powerfully illustrates the transience of all earthly strongholds and human security. Ultimate security rests not in physical fortresses but in God's unshakeable covenant.

Numbers 24 22 Commentary

Numbers 24:22, a profound snippet from Balaam's unsolicited final oracles, unveils a powerful truth about divine sovereignty. Balaam's prophetic vision pierces through immediate circumstances to reveal the eventual fate of the Kenites, a nomadic group admired for their strongholds in the previous verse. The oracle pronounces that they will "be wasted"—a thorough and complete consumption or destruction. This process, it is foretold, will culminate precisely when "Asshur shall carry thee away captive." This mention of Assyria is astoundingly precise and prescient. Hundreds of years before the Assyrian Empire rose to dominate the Near East with its brutal policy of mass deportations, God revealed its role in history. This specific detail underscores that Balaam’s words were not his own but divine utterances, confirming God’s meticulous plan for nations. The verse implicitly asserts that no people, however secure in their "rocky nests," can stand outside of God's overarching decrees for history. It warns that mere proximity or intermittent alliance with Israel, without true covenant adherence, does not guarantee eternal security from the world's tides of judgment. Ultimately, it emphasizes God’s use of all entities, even pagan empires, as instruments in fulfilling His sovereign purposes, proving that His domain extends beyond His covenant people to encompass the entire globe.