Chapter 24 Balaam's Final Failed Attempt Is Followed By Various Prophecies.
‘And when Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.'
Balaam now recognised that it was Yahweh's intention to bless Israel. So he realised that his enchantments, his ‘persuaders', would not work and decided to try another tack. He would set his face towards the wilderness and seek to enter into a trance. Perhaps that would work.
‘And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw (or ‘looked on') Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came on him.'
And there Balaam fixed his eyes on Israel dwelling in their usual formation, in their tribes. Now he saw the whole of Israel. And as he did so ‘the Spirit of God' came on him, and he prophesied. What resulted was not his intention but he is seen as having no choice in the matter. Yahweh intervened again to make him bless Israel.