Balaam’s Third Oracle
1When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3Then he took up his poem and said: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 4the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! 6Like valleys they stretch out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that Yahweh has planted, like cedars beside the waters. 7Water will flow from his buckets, and his offspring will have abundant water. His king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8God brought him out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox to him. He devours the nations that are his enemies, he crushes their bones and pierces them with his arrows. 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness — who will rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”
Balaam’s Fourth Oracle
10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! 11Now flee to your own place! I said I would honor you richly, but look, Yahweh has kept you from honor.” 12Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers, whom you sent to me, 13‘Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of Yahweh, to do good or bad of my own will — only what Yahweh says, that I will speak’? 14Now look, I am going back to my own people. Come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” 15Then he took up his poem and said: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, 16the oracle of one who hears the words of God and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. It will crush the borders of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, Seir will become a possession — his enemies — while Israel does valiantly. 19One out of Jacob will have dominion, and will destroy the survivors of the city.”
Final Oracles and Departure
20Then he looked at Amalek and took up his poem and said: “Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be destruction forever.” 21Then he looked at the Kenites and took up his poem and said: “Your dwelling place is enduring, and your nest is set in the rock, 22yet the Kenite will be swept away, when Asshur takes you captive.” 23Then he took up his poem and said: “Alas, who can live when God does this? 24Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will humble Asshur and humble Eber, but he too will come to destruction forever.” 25Then Balaam got up and went back to his place, and Balak also went on his way.
