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(^17) The prophecies of Balaam certainly go far beyond the range of the prophetic vision of
that time. Could it be, because Balaam was so entirely passive, as it were transmitting,
without absorbing, any of the rays of light, nor yet mingling them with the coloring in
his own mind.
(^18) Of course, we translate literally.
(^19) Literally: pronounce wrath.
(^20) We have put it so as to include both the present and the future tense.
(^21) Bishop H. Browne prefers the rendering "progeny." But "the fourth part" seems to
refer to the square arrangement of the camp of Israel, each side of the square being
occupied by three tribes.
(^22) In the plural number, referring to Israel.
(^23) Kurtz, History of the Old Covenant, vol. 3 p. 432, Engl. Trans.
(^24) Numbers 23:13. So literally; the critical discussion see in Keil, Bible Commentary,
vol. 2 p. 313.
(^25) A description of the view from Pisgah is given in a subsequent chapter.
(^26) That is, the shout of jubilee on account of the abiding presence of Jehovah as their
King is in the midst of the camp of Israel. This is symbolized by the blast of the
trumpets, which is designated by the same word as that rendered "jubilee."
(^27) Viz., Israel's.
(^28) The same word by which Balaam himself is uniformly designated as "the soothsayer."
(^29) In due time God reveals by His word to Israel His purpose.
(^30) Literally, "the torn," what he had torn in pieces.
(^31) The Targum Onkelos, however, renders, "the man who saw clearly."
(^32) Targum Onkelos: "as rivers flowing onward; as the watered garden by Euphrates - as
aromatic shrubs planted by the Lord; as cedars by the waters."
(^)