The vision; so called either strictly and properly, because he was awake when this was revealed to him; or largely and improperly, for any extraordinary discovery of God's mind to him, whether sleeping or waking. A trance, or ecstasy, fainting and falling upon the ground, as the prophets used to do. See 1 Samuel 19:24 Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 3:23 43:3 Daniel 8:17,18 Daniel 10:15 Revelation 1:17. Others, falling suddenly into a sleep, as the prophets sometimes did, as Genesis 15:12 Daniel 8:18.
Related Commentaries of Numbers 24:4
Numbers 24:4
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: