from WL Worcester (H Blackmer, ed.), 
The Sower.  Helps to the Study of the Bible in Home and Sunday School
 
(Boston: Massachusetts New-Church Union, n.d.)

Table of Contents
 

 

Lesson 55

Numbers 24: Balaam's Blessing

The Story

Primary

When Balaam came, Balak took him up to one of the mountain-tops, no doubt a place of worship, from which he could see a part of the camp of Israel in the plain below, and then to a second top, and at last to one from which he saw the whole camp. On each mountain they offered sacrifices and hoped for some word of prophecy against Israel, but the Lord gave only blessings, beautiful blessings. Balak was disappointed, and Balaam took his journey home.

Junior

East of Jordan on many mountain-tops there are altars to which people used to go in the old days to make sacrifices to their idols. Balak took Balaam to one of these mountain-tops, from which he could see the utmost part of the camp of Israel in the plain below, and then to a second top, and at last to one from which he saw the whole camp. On each mountain they offered sacrifices and hoped for some word of prophecy against Israel, but the Lord gave only blessings.

Let us imagine that we are standing with Balaam and Balak on the mountain looking across the broad meadows of Jordan. Far out in the plain was the dark line of trees which showed where the river ran. Beyond were the hills of the promised land, directly opposite being the wilderness of Judaea, Jeshimon, "the waste." In the meadows, near the foot of the mountain on which Balaam and Balak stood, among the groves of acacia trees (Num. 25:1) were the tents of Israel.

We know the position of each tribe, for when the people were at Mount Sinai the Lord told them in what order they should camp and march. In the middle of the camp was the tabernacle with its court about it. Next around the tabernacle camped the Levites, the tribe set apart to take care of the holy things. At the east before the tabernacle, camped Moses, and Aaron and his sons. (Num. 3:23-39) Round about at a distance all the people camped, each tribe by itself with its standard. Three tribes were on each side of the camp; on the east Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; on the south Reuben, Simeon and Gad; on the west Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin; on the north Dan, Asher and Naphtali. (Num. 2) Balaam looked from the mountain and "saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes."

Balaam spoke not his own words but a beautiful blessing from the Lord. As you read it you will feel that it is like a Psalm, not the words of any human being. "Lign-aloes" (verse 6) was a tree with fragrant wood or gum. Agag (verse 7) was king of the Amalekites. We shall learn about him in 1 Sam. 15. "Unicorn" (verse 8) means, perhaps, "wild ox." In verses 17-19, we find the promise of a Star to come out of Jacob, and of One who should have dominion. We know who is meant. "Sheth" (verse 17) is translated tumult in the Revised Version.

Balaam looked also on Amalek in the pastures of the South Country. The Kenites (verse 21) were the family of the Midianites with whom Moses had lived; their home was now among the Amalekites. (1 Sam. 15:6) Asshur (verse 22) was Assyria, by and by to become so strong. Chittim (verse 24) was somewhere on the Mediterranean islands or shores. Eber was an ancient ancestor of Israel (Gen. 10:21-25), from whom they were called Hebrews, and the name probably stands here for that people. The prophecy was ended, Balak was disappointed, and Balaam took his journey home.

1. The king of Moab was_____? And the prophet from the east was_____?

2. From where did Balaam look and what did he see?

3. Where were the tribes of Israel camped? Can you tell me something about the order of their camp? How did each tribe know its place?

4. To what was Israel likened in the blessing which Balaam spoke?

5. Of what in the Gospel are we reminded by the verse which speaks of the Lord's coming as a Star?

Spiritual Study

Intermediate

Balak took Balaam to the mountain-tops, which were high places where sacrifices were made to idols. The custom of worshiping on mountains had come from very old times, when people knew that a mountain represented an interior state of heavenly affection, near to the Lord. (A. 795, 796, 2722)

In verse 2 it is said that the Spirit of God came upon Balaam. The words which he spoke from this Spirit were not his own, nor such as he wished to speak. Remember how it was when Isaac blessed Jacob. Speaking from the Lord's Spirit, he could not take back or change the words that he had spoken. (Gen. 27:33)

There was a meaning in the order of the camp of Israel. Each tribe represented some element of heavenly life. And the encampment showed the relation of these among themselves. "Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes," was a picture of a heavenly life in its true order, every element in its place; it was a picture also of heaven, where every society and every angel is in orderly relation with the rest. The blessing which the Lord gave Balaam to speak was not so much a blessing of Israel as a people, as of human life in its true order in an individual and in heaven. Read beautiful things in E. 431.

Thinking now of the position of the tribes, you see why the tabernacle was in the center of the camp and the Levites next about it. The tabernacle is the Lord's own presence, and the Levites are inmost love for Him and for one another. The tribes were placed according to the points of the compass: this is because in heaven and in the Bible certain qualities are associated with the quarters. The east is associated with nearness to the Lord in innocent affection. This quality is represented by the tribes camping on the east with Judah at their head. The west is associated with more external forms of goodness; this is represented by the tribes on the west under the lead of Ephraim. In the south are those who are in the bright light of intelligence; this faculty is represented by the tribes on the south under the lead of Reuben. More obscure intelligence is associated with the north and is represented by the tribes under the lead of Dan. Every tribe, every faculty, in its place, in relation to the Lord and to all the rest. (A. 3920, 3961, 3971; E. 432-450; R. 349-359) In studying the meaning of the tribes you will notice that they are named in different order in different places in the Word, and that while each tribe keeps always its essential meaning, that meaning is modified by the position in which the tribe stands in the list.

Balaam's prophecy is called a parable, and a parable has a deeper meaning. In this deeper meaning, his words describe the blessedness of a true life and of heaven. Israel is compared to fruitful trees (verse 6); this points especially to the beauty of heavenly intelligence. (A. 2702, 3079) It is compared to a unicorn and a lion (verses 8, 9); this describes the strength of heavenly affection. (A. 6367) The prophecy foretells the coming of the Lord, and it means also the recognition of the Lord in a heavenly life, as King and Savior. Other nations mentioned in the prophecy are evil or external things, which will be overcome by the Lord's strength. This is the Lord's own promise to His people. (A. 3322)

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