SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:24
Y vendrán navíos de la costa de Quitim, y afligirán a Assur, afligirán también a Heber; mas él también perecerá para siempre.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:24
Verse 24. Ships shall come from the coast of Chittim] Some think by Chittim the Romans, others the Macedonians under Alexander the Great, are meant. It is certain that the Romans did conquer the Assyrians, including all the people of Syria, Mesopotamia, &c., but Calmet strongly contends that by Chittim Macedonia is meant, and that the prophecy refers to the conquests of Alexander. Chittim was one of the sons of Javan, the son of Japheth, the son of Noah, Gen. x. 4; and his posterity, according to Josephus, Antiq., 1. iii., c. 22, settled in Cilicia, Macedonia, Cyprus, and Italy also; and therefore, says Mr. Ainsworth, the prophecy may imply both the troubles that befell the Assyrians and Jews by the Greeks and Seleucidae, in the troublous days of Antiochus. And shall afflict Eber] Probably not the Hebrews, as some think, but the people on the other side the Euphrates, from rb[ abar, to pass over, go beyond; all which people were discomfited, and their empire destroyed by Alexander the Great.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim , etc.] Kittim was the son of Javan, ( Genesis 10:4) and so designs some part of Greece: Josephus says that Kittim possessed the island now called Cyprus, in which was a city now called Citium, after his name; Macedonia, a considerable part of Greece, is called the land of Cittim, “And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,” (1 Maccabees 1:1) “Beside this, how they had discomfited in battle Philip, and Perseus, king of the Citims, with others that lifted up themselves against them, and had overcome them:” (1 Maccabees 8:5) but the Targum of Jonathan interprets it, of the country of Italy; the Jerusalem Targum, of the Roman legions; and perhaps both Greeks and Romans are intended, and so ships from Cittim, in ( Daniel 11:30), design Romans in Grecian ships; for in such were the Roman ambassadors carried, who distressed Antiochus, king of Syria, (see Gill on “ Daniel 11:30”); and both may be intended here: it is affirmed that Noah with his son Japheth, came into the country now called Italy, and built a city, and gave it the name of Cethim, since called Volterra, and was the metropolis of Etruria, and gave name to all Italy; and that in the year two hundred and twenty from the building of that city, Cethim the son of Javan, and grandson of Noah, took two colonies with him, and sailed to an island which he called after his own name Cethim, now Cyprus: and shall afflict Ashur ; which being a part of the Persian empire, was afflicted, conquered, and subdued by Alexander the Macedonian, who is said to come out of the land of Cittim, “And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,” (1 Maccabees 1:1) and shall afflict Eber ; or the Hebrews, as the Septuagint version; not that the Grecians or Macedonians should do this, for they under Alexander did not afflict the Jews; unless this is to be understood of the Seleucidae, the kings of Syria, the successors of Alexander, who did distress the Jews; but rather this respects the Romans under Pompey, and especially under Titus Vespasian, who destroyed their city, and carried them captive, and who ever since have been dispersed among the nations: and he also shall perish for ever : not Eber, but those that afflicted him, even the Romans; and indeed both monarchies, Grecian and Roman, are prophesied of as what should be destroyed, and that by a son of Eber, the Messiah; the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, said to break in pieces all these kingdoms, ( Daniel 2:44,45) and not Rome Pagan only, but Rome Papal also, antichrist and all the antichristian powers, ( Thessalonians 2:8). and so the Targum of Jonathan says, that the end both of the one and the other, that is, that shall afflict Eber, shall be, to fall by the hand of the King Messiah, and they shall perish for ever.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-25 - Under the powerful influence of the Spirit of prophecy, Balaam foretol the future prosperity and extensive dominion of Israel. Balaam boast that his eyes are open. The prophets were in old times called seers. He had heard the words of God, which many do who neither heed them, no hear God in them. He knew the knowledge of the Most High. A man may be full of the knowledge of God, yet utterly destitute of the grace of God. He calls God the Most High and the Almighty. No man could seem to express a greater respect to God; yet he had no true fear of him, love to him, nor faith in him; so far a man may go toward heaven, and ye come short of it at last. Here is Balaam's prophecy concerning Him wh should be the crown and glory of his people Israel; who is David in the type; but our Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah, is chiefly pointed at and of him it is an illustrious prophecy. Balaam, a wicked man, shal see Christ, but shall not see him nigh; not see him as Job, who saw his as his Redeemer, and saw him for himself. When he comes in the clouds every eye shall see him; but many will see him, as the rich man in hel saw Abraham, afar off. He shall come out of Jacob, and Israel, as Star and a Sceptre; the former denoting his glory and lustre; the latter his power and authority. Christ shall be King, not only of Jaco and Israel, but of all the world; so that all shall be either governe by his golden sceptre, or dashed in pieces by his iron rod. Balaa prophesied concerning the Amalekites and Kenites, part of whose countr he had now in view. Even a nest in a rock will not be a lastin security. Here is a prophecy that looks as far forward as to the Greek and Romans. He acknowledges all the revolutions of states and kingdom to be the Lord's doing. These events will make such desolations, tha scarcely any will escape. They that live then, will be as brand plucked out of the fire. May God fit us for the worst of times! Thu Balaam, instead of cursing the church, curses Amalek the first, an Rome the last enemy of the church. Not Rome pagan only, but Rome papa also; antichrist and all the antichristian powers. Let us as ourselves, Do we in knowledge, experience, or profession, excel Balaam No readiness of speech, even in preaching or prayer, no gifts of knowledge or prophecy, are in themselves different from, or superior to the boasted gifts of him who loved the wages of unrighteousness, an died the enemy of God. Simple dependence on the Redeemer's atonin blood and sanctifying grace, cheerful submission to the Divine will constant endeavours to glorify God and benefit his people, these ar less splendid, but far more excellent gifts, and always accompan salvation. No boasting hypocrite ever possessed these; yet the feebles believer has something of them, and is daily praying for more of them __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
וצים 6716 מיד 3027 כתים 3794 וענו 6031 אשׁור 804 וענו 6031 עבר 5677 וגם 1571 הוא 1931 עדי 5703 אבד׃ 8
