Balaam's First Oracle. Its purport is that the secure independence, the imposing numbers, and the undisturbed prosperity of Israel are proof that the people have not been cursed by God and therefore cannot be cursed by Balaam. The poem, which may have been incorporated, rather than composed, by the author of the narrative, seems to date from a period when Israel was most prosperous (i.e. some time during the undivided monarchy; cf. on Numbers 24:7; Numbers 24:17).
Numbers 23:7. Aram: i.e. Aram-naharaim (Genesis 24:10 *, Deuteronomy 23:4 mg.), the country near the Euphrates. This agrees with E's view that Balaam's home was at Pethor. defy: better, execrate.
Numbers 23:9. that dwell alone, i.e. that live secure and unmolested. shall not be reckoned, etc.: better, reckoneth not itself among the nations, i.e. regards itself as above the level of others by reason of its good fortune, due to its unique relation with Yahweh (see Exodus 19:5 f; Exodus 33:16; Leviticus 20:24).
Numbers 23:10. Read, Who can count the dust (i.e. the numbers, Genesis 13:16) of Jacob? Who can reckon (LXX) the tens of thousands of Israel? Let me die, etc.: the death of such righteous people as the Israelites is so long deferred and so peaceful that the speaker can desire no better sequel of life for himself. For end cf. Proverbs 23:18 mg., * though the LXX takes the word to mean posterity (Psalms 109:13). The epithet righteous, here applied to individual Israelites, is applied collectively to the nation in the title The book of Jashar (or the Righteous), given to a collection of poems celebrating national achievements (p. 45, Joshua 10:12 f. 2 Samuel 1:18). The name Jeshurun (a word from the same root and of similar meaning) is also used to describe Israel in Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5; Deuteronomy 33:26; Isaiah 44:2.