Balaam’s Sixth Oracle
24: 21-22
The Kenites were destined to go into Assyrian captivity along with Isra’el.
The remaining three oracles seem to spring almost involuntarily from the fourth oracle (to see link click Dw – Balaam’s Fourth Oracle). They overlap the promise of victory of Isra’el over all her enemies; hence these are “curse oracles.” It may be that these were similar to the types of oracles that Balaam intended to hurl against Isra’el. Instead, these harsh words lash out against the foes of the people of ADONAI. Here lies the final irony: Balak and Balaam had plotted to bring Isra’el under a curse, but their conspiracies only assured their own doom.544 As Balaam stood on the top of the Pisgah Mountain Range, he had visions concerning other nations and predicted their destiny. They differ from the previous oracle against Mo’ab and Edom, in that they do not mention Isra’el. Indeed, from the Moabite plateau looking southward to the Negev, he could see the Amalekites, Kenites, and future rise of the Assyrians.
The Kenites were a clan of the Midianites (Exodus 3:1; Numbers 10:29), who lived in the hill country south-west of the Dead Sea, quite close to the Amalekites. But unlike the Amalikes, the Kenites were on good terms with Isra’el. Zipporah, the wife of Moshe, was a Midianite of the Kenite clan. Moses’ brother-in-law Habab was described earlier as a Midianite (10:29), but Hobab’s father, and thus Hobab, were Kenites (Judges 1:16).545 Furthermore, they settled with the people of Isra’el in the Land (Judges 1:16, 4:11 and 5:24). In addition, David treated them quite well (First Samuel 29:9-10 and 30:29), so the Jews and the Kenites had a long-term relationship. When Sha’ul went to battle against the Amalekites (see the commentary on the Life of King Sha’ul Cl – The Rejection of King Sha’ul), he first gave the Kenites the opportunity to withdraw from their lands so they wouldn’t be destroyed along with the Amalekites. Thus, the Kenites had a different relationship with Isra’el in the oracles of Balaam. They were not going to be dislodged by Isra’el because they had essentially joined Isra’el.
The Kenites put their faith in the security afforded them by their geographical location, nestled in the rocky highlands of southern Canaan. Though they felt as though their settlements were impregnable, when Balaam saw the Kenites (Hebrew: keini) from the top of the Pisgah Mountain Range, he made this oracle, “Though your dwelling is firm, your nest (Hebrew: kayin) set on rock; nevertheless, you Kenites will be destroyed and taken captive by the Assyrians.” There is a play-on-words here, the Kenites (keini) nest (kayin) will fail. This prophecy was fulfilled by Tiglath-Pilesser III in 742 BC, and Shalmaneser V in 722 BC. The point of this oracle is that the Kenites were destined to go into Assyrian captivity along with Isra’el (Second Kings 17:5-6). And they have not been heard of since.546
These three oracles (24:20-25), paint a picture of one nation raising and supplanting another, only to face its own doom (see Dz – Balaam’s Seventh Oracle). In contrast, there is the implied ongoing blessing on the people of Isra’el and their sure promise of a future Deliverer who will have the final victory. It is remarkable that God gave these visions to a covetous Gentile sorcerer instead of a dedicated Jewish prophet. But He is sovereign in all His ways, and His ways are higher than our ways (see the commentary on Isaiah Ji – My Word That Goes Out Will Not Return Empty).547
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that Your Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom! Then the Kingdom, power, and greatness of the kingdoms under all heaven will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey Him (Dani’el 7:27). Your Almighty Sovereign power will sustain Your kingdom thru all eternity! Even when the Beast has taken over the world and all the armies of the world are gathered to fight against You. There is not even a battle, for You wipe them all out with the sword of your mouth. From His mouth comes a sharp sword – so that with it He may strike down the nations – and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and He treads the winepress of the furious wrath of Elohei-Tzva’ot. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:15-16, 20-21b).
Your wisdom and omniscience extends to knowing all that will happen in the future. The future is in Your hands and your knowledge of what will happen is so exact and sure, that in many places in Your Word, future events are written in past tense, as though they already happened. Your ruling for all eternity, though still to come in the future, is sure and trustworthy. You are so incredibly mighty that Your throne is ablaze with flames and a river of fire flows out before You! While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His garment was as white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousands of thousands attended Him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened (Dani’el 7:9-10) .
You accurately have prophesied the future, telling the name and describing all the future kingdoms of the world. It has all happened just as you said. Your Word is 100% true and always 100% accurate. You prophecy of Messiah’s coming Kingdom, an everlasting dominion that will never be destroyed, will also come true exactly as You said. Behold, One like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days, and was brought into His presence. Dominion, glory and sovereignty were given to Him that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed (Dani’el 7:13-14). What comfort it is to know that You, our wonderful and loving Heavenly Father, will be the final and supreme Ruler of the world. We bow in worship of You and we live our lives focusing on how to obey You. In Your holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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