Balaam's Third Oracle
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When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at s other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
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And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel t camping tribe by tribe. And u the Spirit of God came upon him,
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and he v took up his discourse and said,
"The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
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the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
w falling down with his eyes uncovered:
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How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
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Like palm groves that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
x like aloes y that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
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Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be z in many waters;
his king shall be higher than a Agag,
and b his kingdom shall be exalted.
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God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the c horns of the wild ox;
he shall d eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall e break their bones in pieces
and f pierce them through with his arrows.
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He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and g like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
h Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you."
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And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he i struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, j "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.
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Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, k 'I will certainly honor you,' but the Lord has held you back from honor."
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And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,
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l 'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad m of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak'?
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And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, n I will let you know what this people will do to your people o in the latter days."
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Cross References
Numbers 23:3
And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height.
Numbers 23:15
Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.
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Cross References
Numbers 2:22 - 31
Then the tribe of Benjamin, the chief of the people of Benjamin being Abidan the son of Gideoni.
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Cross References
Judges 3:10
The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
1 Samuel 19:20
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
1 Samuel 19:23
And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
2 Chronicles 15:1
The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded.
2 Chronicles 20:14
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
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Cross References
Numbers 23:7
And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!
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Cross References
Ezekiel 1:28
Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel 3:23
So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
Revelation 1:17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last.
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Cross References
Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Jeremiah 17:8
He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
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Cross References
Psalms 104:16
The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
Isaiah 61:3
To grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 51:13
O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
Revelation 17:1
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 15:8
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 5:12
And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
1 Chronicles 14:2
And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
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Cross References
Numbers 23:22
God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
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Cross References
Numbers 14:9
Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.
Numbers 23:24
Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.
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Cross References
Isaiah 38:13
I calmed myself until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end.
Jeremiah 50:17
Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones.
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Cross References
Psalms 45:5
Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.
Jeremiah 50:9
For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.
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Cross References
Numbers 23:24
Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.
Genesis 49:9
Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
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Cross References
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 27:29
Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!
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Cross References
Job 27:23
It claps its hands at him and hisses at him from its place.
Lamentations 2:15
All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem: "Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?
Ezekiel 21:14
As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them.
Ezekiel 21:17
I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken.
Ezekiel 22:13
Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst.
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Cross References
Numbers 23:11
And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.
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Cross References
Numbers 22:17
For I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'
Numbers 22:37
And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?
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Cross References
Numbers 22:18
But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:28
And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord.
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Cross References
Micah 6:5
O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
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Cross References
Genesis 49:1
Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.