Chapter commentary
Numbers Chapter 24
1
Nu 24:1-25.
简体中文
English original
Nu 24:1-25.
BALAAM FORETELLS ISRAEL'S HAPPINESS.
1. to seek for--that is, to use enchantments. His experience on the two former occasions
[Nu 23:3, 15]
had taught him that these superstitious accompaniments of his worship were useless, and therefore he now simply looked towards the camp of Israel, either with a secret design to curse them, or to await the divine afflatus.
2
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简体中文
2. 他看见以色列按着支派安营在帐篷中——即营地井然有序的分布
(Nu 2:1-34)。
神的灵临到他身上——在先知的正规职事设立之前，神使用各种人作为启示其旨意的器皿，巴兰便是其中之一
(De 23:5)。
English original
2. he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes--that is, in the orderly distribution of the camp
(Nu 2:1-34).
the spirit of God came upon him--Before the regular ministry of the prophets was instituted, God made use of various persons as the instruments through whom He revealed His will, and Balaam was one of these
(De 23:5).
3
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简体中文
3. 眼目睁开的人——即先见
(1Sa 9:9)，
是先知，异象中的未来向其显明——有时是在沉睡之中
(Ge 15:12-15)，
常是在“魂游象外”之中。
English original
3. the man whose eyes are open--that is, a seer
(1Sa 9:9),
a prophet, to whom the visioned future was disclosed--sometimes when falling into a sleep
(Ge 15:12-15),
frequently into "a trance."
5
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5-7. 雅各啊，你的帐棚何等华美……以色列啊——一缕热烈的赞叹，以高度诗意的笔调表达。一切旅行者都描绘，贝都因帐篷所围成的圆形区域为旷野增添了何等的美。那么，从亚巴琳的高处俯瞰以色列那绵延于脚下平原之上的庞大营幕，那景象该是何等壮观。
English original
5-7. How goodly are thy tents, . . . O Israel!--a fine burst of admiration, expressed in highly poetical strains. All travellers describe the beauty which the circular area of Bedouin tents impart to the desert. How impressive, then, must have been the view, as seen from the heights of Abarim, of the immense camp of Israel extended over the subjacent plains.
6
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6. 如溪水——希伯来文作“溪”，即山间的水流。
沉香树——其本土幼发拉底河岸边的一种芳香灌木，其圆锥形使人联想到帐篷的形状。这几节繁复的意象描绘了以色列卑微的起源、迅速的进展与昌盛。
English original
6. As the valleys--Hebrew, "brooks," the watercourses of the mountains.
lign aloes--an aromatic shrub on the banks of his native Euphrates, the conical form of which suggested an apt resemblance to a tent. The redundant imagery of these verses depicts the humble origin, rapid progress, and prosperity of Israel.
7
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7. 他的王必超过亚甲——当时亚玛力人是旷野诸部族中最强大的，而“亚甲”是其诸王通用的尊号。
English original
7. his king shall be higher than Agag--The Amalekites were then the most powerful of all the desert tribes, and "Agag" a title common to their kings.
10
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10-14. 巴勒向巴兰发怒，就拍起手来——在东方人中间，“拍手”是极度暴怒的表示（参
Eze 21:17; 22:13），
也是蒙羞被逐的记号。
English original
10-14. Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together--The "smiting of the hands together" is, among Oriental people, an indication of the most violent rage (see
Eze 21:17; 22:13)
and ignominious dismissal.
15
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简体中文
15. 他就题起诗歌——即以诗体风格说出的预言。
English original
15. he took his parable--or prophecy, uttered in a poetical style.
17
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简体中文
17. 我看他——更准确地说，应作“我正在看”或“我已经看见他”——一种预言性的看见，如同亚伯拉罕的那样
(Joh 8:56)。
他——即以色列。
有星要出于雅各，有杖要兴于以色列——这意象，用东方的象形语言，指某位杰出的统治者——首先指大卫；其次且首要地，指弥赛亚（参
Ge 49:10）。
角——即边境，常用来指一整片地
(Ex 8:2; Ps 74:17)。
设特之子——某位摩押的君王；或按某些人的说法，指“东方之子”。
English original
17. I shall see him--rather, "I do see" or "I have seen him"--a prophetic sight, like that of Abraham
(Joh 8:56).
him--that is, Israel.
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel--This imagery, in the hieroglyphic language of the East, denotes some eminent ruler--primarily David; but secondarily and pre-eminently, the Messiah (see on
Ge 49:10).
corners--border, often used for a whole country
(Ex 8:2; Ps 74:17).
children of Sheth--some prince of Moab; or, according to some, "the children of the East."
18
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18. 以东必为产业——这预言由大卫应验
(2Sa 8:14)。
西珥——见于南方，诗中用以代指以东。摩押和以东的双重征服被提及
(Ps 60:8; 108:9)。
English original
18. Edom shall be a possession--This prophecy was accomplished by David
(2Sa 8:14).
Seir--seen in the south, and poetically used for Edom. The double conquest of Moab and Edom is alluded to
(Ps 60:8; 108:9).
19
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19. 出于雅各的必掌大权——指大卫，尤指基督。
那从城中逃脱的——即从战场逃到坚固之地的人
(Ps 60:9)。
English original
19. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion--David, and particularly Christ.
that remaineth of the city--those who flee from the field to fortified places
(Ps 60:9).
20
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20. 亚玛力……他的终局必至永远灭亡——其领地见于旷野的极远之处。（参
Ex 17:13；
另参
1Sa 15:1-35）。
English original
20. Amalek . . . his latter end shall be that he perish for ever--Their territory was seen at the remote extremity of the desert. (See on
Ex 17:13;
also
1Sa 15:1-35).
21
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21. 基尼人……窝巢在岩石中——他们虽安稳地安居在隐基底以西高处岩石的裂缝中，却将被一连串的敌人逐步削弱，直到亚述入侵者将他们掳去
(Jud 1:16; 4:11, 16, 17；
另参 2Ki 15:29; 17:6)。
English original
21. Kenites . . . nest in a rock--Though securely established among the clefts in the high rocks of En-gedi towards the west, they should be gradually reduced by a succession of enemies till the Assyrian invader carried them into captivity
(Jud 1:16; 4:11, 16, 17; also 2Ki 15:29; 17:6).
23
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23. 神行这事、谁还能存活！——在神所差一位尼布甲尼撒来鞭笞那些地区的那场荒凉中，能逃脱的人寥寥无几。
English original
23. who shall live when God doeth this!--Few shall escape the desolation that shall send a Nebuchadnezzar to scourge all those regions.
24
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24. 基提——指地中海沿岸的诸国，特指希腊和意大利
(Da 11:29, 30)。
亚述人自己也要被倾覆——首先被亚历山大大帝及其继任者手下的希腊人所灭；其次被罗马人所灭。
希伯——希伯来人的后裔
(Ge 10:24)。
他也必灭亡——即亚设和希伯的征服者，亦即希腊和罗马帝国。
English original
24. Chittim--the countries lying on the Mediterranean, particularly Greece and Italy
(Da 11:29, 30).
The Assyrians were themselves to be overthrown--first, by the Greeks under Alexander the Great and his successors; secondly, by the Romans.
Eber--the posterity of the Hebrews
(Ge 10:24).
he also shall perish--that is, the conqueror of Asher and Eber, namely, the Greek and Roman empires.
25
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25. 巴兰起来，回……他的本乡去了——即米所波大米，但他并未真正回去。 （参见
民 31:8 的注释。）
English original
25. Balaam rose up, and went . . . to his place--Mesopotamia, to which, however, he did not return. (See on
Nu 31:8).
Nu 24:1-25.
巴兰 预言 以色列的 福祉。
1. 求问——即使用法术。前两次的经历
[Nu 23:3, 15]
已使他明白，这些伴随敬拜的迷信之举毫无用处，因此他如今只是简单地朝向以色列人的营幕望去，或心存暗中咒诅他们的意图，或等候神的默感。