Balaam’s Fifth Oracle
24: 20
There came a day of reckoning on the Amalekites that was dreadful.
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.542 As Balaam stood on the top of the Pisgah Mountain Range, some 2,600 feet above sea level, 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 the Asshurites.
Balaam saw Amalek and made this oracle, “First among nations [was] Amalek” (24:20a). Amalek, the tribal ancestor of the Amalekites is here used as a synonym for the tribe. They were first among the nations in two ways. First, they were first among the nations in the sense that their ancestry could be traced all the way back to Esau, making them an ancient people (Genesis 36:16). And secondly, they were the first nation to take up arms against Isra’el. They attacked the Israelites just after they left Egypt (see the commentary on Exodus Cv – The Amalekites Attacked the Israelites at Rephidim). To remember the attack, Jewish communities around the world observe Shabbat Zachor (Shabbat of Remembrance). It is the Shabbat immediately preceding Purim when the attack is remembered. There is a tradition from the Talmud that Haman, the antagonist of the Purim story, was descended from Amalek. The portion that is read includes a commandment to remember the attack by Amalek, and therefore at the public reading, both men and women make a special effort to hear the reading.
But, there came a day of reckoning on the Amalekites that was dreadful. Balaam concluded: their destiny [will be] destruction (24:20b). In the near historical future, at the request of God, king Sha’ul seemed to defeat the Amalekites, but disobeyed when the prophet Samuel placed them under His cherem judgment (see the commentary on the Life of King Sha’ul Cl – The Rejection of King Sha’ul). Later, David defeated the Amalekites. He fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day. The attack was massive, bloody, and decisive. None of them got away, except for four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled (see the commentary on the Life of David Cb – David Defeats the Amalekites). Later, they were totally destroyed by the tribe of Simeon in Hezekiah’s time (First Chronicles 4:43). However, the Exodus passage above ends with the statement: ADONAI will wage war against the Amalekites from generation to generation, symbolizing all of God’s enemies (Exodus 17:16). Therefore, this oracle of doom will also extend into the far eschatological future where the Messiah will secure the final victory over all His enemies (see the commentary on Revelation Fl – When the Thousand Years Are Over).
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).543
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being such a wonderful Heavenly Father, completely loving yet also fair and righteous in judgment. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Lovingkindness and truth go before You (Psalms 89:14). Messiah Yeshua called out to all that they should come to him. Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
The prophet Isaiah spoke of the importance of coming to God, not just knowing about Him, but to answer the LORD’s invitation and come to Him so that their soul may live. Everyone who thirsts, come to the water . . . open your ears and come to Me. Listen, so that your soul may live (Isaiah 55:1 and 3). Messiah calls out for all to come to His gracious offer of living water. On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Yeshua stood up and cried out loudly: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. Now He said this about the Ruach, whom those who trusted in Him were going to receive; for the Ruach was not yet given, since Yeshua was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39).
Many do not want to humble their hearts before You. They do not want to answer Your gracious invitation to come to You by making You their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-11). They choose to follow their own selfish hearts desires and ignore Your merciful call. You will judge each one fairly. Then Yeshua began to denounce the towns where most of His miracles had happened, because they did not turn from their sins. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have turned long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum? Will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Sheol! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you (Matthew 11:21-24).
Praise Your great love that calls all to come, and Your righteousness and justice that will judge with fairness Your enemies. Life is so short and eternity is so long. It is foolish to be Your enemy. What joy it is to love and follow You and be rewarded by a home in heaven for all eternity (John 14:1-3, Revelation 21:1-4)! Praise You always! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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