Numbers 24:23
21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.
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
- Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
- KJV
- And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!
- WEB
- He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
- ASV
- And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?
- DARBY
- And he took up his parable, and said, Alas! Who shall live when God doeth this?
- BLB
- And he lifted up his oracle and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
- ÅB
- Så tok han igjen til å kvede og sa: Ve! Hvem skal bli i live når Gud lar dette skje?
- OTB
- Så begynte han sin uttalelse og sa: "Akk, hvem kan overleve med mindre Gud har villet det?
- B1930
- Så tok han igjen til å kvede og sa: Ve! Hvem skal bli i live når Gud lar dette skje?
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 contextMalachi 3:2
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
Read in context2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
Read in context