SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:23
Tomó su parábola otra vez, y dijo: ¡Ay! ¿quién vivirá cuando hiciere Dios estas cosas?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 24:23
Verse 23. Who shall live when God doeth this!] There are two senses in which these words may be taken: -1. That the event is so distant that none then alive could possibly live to see it. 2. That the times would be so distressing and desolating that scarcely any should be able to escape. The words are very similar to those of our Lord, and probably are to be taken in the same sense: "Wo to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And he took up his parable, and said , etc.] Or delivered another prophecy, having made some little pause: alas, who shall live when God doeth this ? referring not to what goes before, but to what follows; though Jarchi and Aben Ezra think it refers to the Assyria conquering and carrying captive, not only the Kenites, but all the nations of the world, so that there was no living comfortably in it on his account; but this is said after Balaam had taken up his parable again, and so respects what follows, as the destruction of the Persian empire by Alexander, in which Ashur or the Assyrians were included; and the destruction of the Jews by the Romans more especially; which was such as had not been the like from the beginning of the world, ( Matthew 24:21,22), and perhaps may have a further respect to the affliction of the witnesses and church of Christ by antichrist; (see Daniel 12:1).
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
וישׂא 5375 משׁלו 4912 ויאמר 559 אוי 188 מי 4310 יחיה 2421 משׂמו 7760 אל׃ 410
