Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 24:14
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
14. I will advertise thee ] I will counsel thee. ‘Advertise’ is an archaism, meaning ‘inform’; cf. Rth 4:4 (A.V. [Note: .V. The Authorised Version.] ).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will advertise thee – i. e., I will advise thee, words which refer to the ensuing prophecy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Advertise thee, or inform thee, to wit, concerning future things, as it here follows, for this word seems inseparably joined with the following. Others, give thee counsel, and tell thee what this people, &c. So it is a short and defective speech, such as we have Exo 4:5; 13:8. And by counsel. they understand that which is related Num 25:1,2, which was done by Balaams counsel, Num 31:16; Rev 2:14. But the former sense is more unforced and agreeable to the following words as they lie.
In the latter days: not in thy time, therefore thou hast no reason to fear, but in succeeding ages, as 2Sa 8:2, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And now, behold, I go unto my people,…. According to thine order, I shall not stay to make thee uneasy with my company, only I crave thy patience to hear me a little before we part:
come therefore, and I will advertise thee; about some things that shall come to pass in future time, respecting this people, and thine, and other nations, both near and remote; and he hoped by this to bring him into a better temper, and part good friends: or “I will counsel thee”; what thou shall do, as the Targum of Onkelos, and so makes a sentence of this of itself, independent of, and distinct from what follows, beginning the next clause thus,
and I will show them what this people, c. referring the former to the counsel Balaam gave to Balak, how to seduce the people into idolatry and the Targum of Jonathan expresses it at large;
“come, I will counsel thee, go and prepare victualling houses, and place lewd women there to sell food and drink at a low price, and bring this people to eat, and drink, and be drunken; and let them lie with them, and deny their God, and they will be delivered into thine hands in a little time, and many of them will fall;”
which advice was followed, Nu 25:1 and is referred to,
Nu 31:16 but though Balaam did give him such advice before he left him, which is highly probable, yet it is not what is intended here, since what follows is closely connected with the above clause, and contains the thing he advertised or advised him of:
what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days; not what the Moabites should do to the Israelites now, as the Vulgate Latin version, quite contrary to the original text, but what the Israelites should do to the Moabites in future times; not only in the times of David, by whom they were subdued, 2Sa 8:2 but in much later times, even in the times of Alexander, or King Jannaeus, who overcame them, as Josephus b relates. Now this might be said to Balak to make him easy, that it would not be until the latter days, many hundreds of years hence, ere the people of Israel would fight with Moab, and subdue it; and therefore he need be under no concern about them, since he would meet with no trouble from them in his time, nor his people for years to come.
b Antiqu. l. 13. c. 13. sect. 5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. And now, behold, I go unto my people. Since the counsel which he gave is not here expressly mentioned, (174) it is the opinion of some that his address is unfinished, and they suppose that he referred to the cunning advice so destructive to the people, which will be presently related; i.e., that the Moabitish women should prostitute themselves. Others rather imagine that Balaam counselled Balak to rest quiet, since the prosperity of the Israelites would do no harm to the Moabites in his lifetime. I, however, take it simply for to teach, or to admonish what would be for his advantage. Thus he commends his prophecy, in order that Balaam may willingly submit to it. Still, when he speaks of the “latter days,” he signifies that there was no cause for Balak himself to fear or be anxious; since the punishment of his nation would be deferred for a long time. In the meantime we see what Balak had gained by his trouble; for, whereas he had hitherto only heard the people of Israel blessed, he is not compelled to listen to what is more painful still, viz., the ruin of his own nation. This is the reward of those who strive against God.
(174) C. translates איעצך, which A. V. renders, “I will advertise thee,” consulam tibi, I will counsel thee: so also Ainsworth.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) I go unto my people.Such was, probably, the intention of Balaam when he spoke these words. The account of the death of Balaam, however, shows that he still lingered amongst the Moabites.
I will advertise thee . . . The word which is here employed generally means to advise. The announcement which Balaam made to Balak virtually included advice, inasmuch as it foretold the supremacy of Israel over all their foes, and, consequently, implied the folly of opposition to their progress. It does not appear whether it was or was not at this time that Balaam taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication (Rev. 2:14). In any case, there does not appear to be any reference to such advice in this verse, although it is inserted in the Targum of Palestine in this place.
In the latter days.Literally, in the end of the days. (See Gen. 49:1, where the same expression occurs, and Note.) The prophecy which follows refers exclusively to the future; and it is divided into four parts by the recurrence of the words He took up his parable at Num. 24:15; Num. 24:20-21; Num. 24:23.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. I will advertise thee Tell thee advisedly. Balaam here shows that he is conscious of a true prophetic vision.
In the latter days Literally, at the end of the days. Not some indefinite future, but the beginning of the last future, the Messianic age from its commencement to its consummation. Gen 49:1, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Prophecies of Balaam ( Num 24:14-25 ).
Balaam then told Balak that he would be returning to his people. This may signify his fellow soothsayers, living together as a people. Or it may simply mean he was returning to the Amavites. However, before doing so, being in prophetic mode, he offered him a prophecy for free. In view of Balak’s attitude it no doubt gave him great satisfaction, for in it he foresees the defeat of Moab.
Analysis.
a Balaam says he will return home after prophesying (Num 24:14)
b Balaam prophesies concerning Israel (Num 24:13-19)
c Balaam looks at and prophesies concerning wandering Amalek (Num 24:20)
c Balaam looks at and prophesies concerning the wandering Kenites (Num 24:21-22)
b Balaam prophesies concerning Eber (Israel and their fellow Semites) (Num 24:23-24)
a Balaam returns home (Num 24:25).
Num 24:14
“ And now, behold, I go to my people. Come, and I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
Balaam then declared that he was returning to his people, but was meanwhile in such constraint in spirit that he had to give another prophetic declaration concerning the distant future of ‘this people’, the Israelites.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Num 24:14. Come, therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people, &c. Here, say the generality of commentators, Balaam most probably gave to Balak the infamous counsel mentioned, chap. Num 31:16 and accordingly some of the paraphrases here insert that counsel; and the Vulgate so understands the passage, dabo consilium tibi quid populus tuus faciat huic populo, extremo tempore; i.e. I will counsel thee what thy people may do to this people as their last resource. That Balaam was indeed the author of that wicked counsel is unquestionable, from comparing chap. Num 31:16 with Rev 2:14. But how it should come into the head of any man to conceive that it was now given, I cannot apprehend. The words of Balaam, and his present circumstances, are both clearly against such a supposition. The king, highly dissatisfied with him, orders him in great wrath to depart; therefore now flee thou to thy place, Num 24:11. The prophet, full of the divine spirit, and unable to resist its impetus, acts a part the most contrary to his interest, and utters such prophesies as were calculated still more to enrage the already incensed monarch, whom he tells, that, being now about to depart to his people, he would inform him, by his prophetic skill, what this people of Israel (whom he was called to curse, but whom, the Lord compelling him, he was obliged to bless) should do to his people in the latter days; i.e. what, in future times, should be the fate of the Moabitish and other nations from the Israelites; and accordingly we find that his succeeding prophesies all refer to this particular.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Observe how he endeavours to soften this message by referring the event foretold to the latter days. As much as to say, it will never happen in your time.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
Ver. 14. I will advertise thee, ] viz., What to do; as he did. Num 31:16 Parasites propound to princes, suavia potius quam sana consilia, pleasing but pestilent counsel, and so do officiously mischieve them; as the dragon is said to bite the elephant’s ear, and there hence to suck his blood, that being the only place that he cannot reach with his trunk to defend.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the latter days = the end of the days, denoting a definite period. Compare Gen 49:1. Deu 4:30. Isa 2:2. Jer 23:20; Jer 30:24; Jer 48:47; Jer 49:39. Eze 38:16. Dan 10:14. Hos 3:5. Mic 4:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will advertise: Num 24:17, Num 31:7-18, Mic 6:5, Rev 2:10, Rev 2:14
the latter: Gen 49:1, Isa 24:22, Jer 48:47, Jer 49:39, Dan 2:28, Dan 10:14, Hos 3:5, Act 2:17, 2Ti 3:1
Reciprocal: Num 31:16 – these caused Deu 2:4 – they shall Deu 30:7 – General Isa 2:2 – in the last Isa 30:8 – the time to come Jer 30:24 – in Eze 38:8 – many days Joh 11:51 – he prophesied 1Ti 4:1 – the latter Heb 1:2 – these
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will {h} advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
(h) He gave also wicked counsel to cause the Israelites to sin, that God might forsake them, Num 31:16.