Numbers 24:1

And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
KJV
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
WEB
When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
ASV
And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
DARBY
And Balaam saw that it was good in the sight of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
BLB
And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of YHWH to bless Israel, and he did not go as time by time to seek to use sorcery, and he set his face toward the wilderness.
ÅB
Da Bileam så at det var Herrens vilje at han skulle velsigne Israel, gikk han ikke bort for å søke tegn, som han hadde gjort de to første ganger, men vendte seg mot ørkenen.
OTB
Da Bileam innså at det gledet Herren å velsigne Israel, søkte han ikke varsler som han hadde gjort før, men vendte blikket mot ørkenen.
B1930
Da Bileam så at det var Herrens vilje at han skulde velsigne Israel, gikk han ikke bort for å søke tegn, som han hadde gjort de to første ganger, men vendte sig mot ørkenen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 23:23

    For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’

    Read in context
  • Revelation 2:14

    But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:15

    Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet the LORD over there.”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:28

    And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 31:16

    “Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:20

    I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 23:3

    “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,

    Read in context
  • Numbers 22:13

    So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

    Read in context