Numbers 23:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For from the top of the rocks I see him, &c.— That is, from the top of the rocks on which he then stood: this, and the next expression, may relate not only to the present view he had of the camp of the Israelites, but to their future settlement in Canaan, wherein they were represented to his "mind's eye" as dwelling securely under the protection of the Almighty. The people shall dwell alone, says Hebrews 1.e. separated from other nations by peculiar laws, religion, and manners; and how could Balaam, says Bishop Newton, upon a distant view only of the people, whom he had never seen or known before, have discovered the genius and manners, not only of the people then living, but of their posterity to the latest generations? What renders it more extraordinary is, the singularity of the character; that they should differ from all the people in the world, and should dwell by themselves among the nations without mixing and incorporating with any. The time too when this is affirmed increases the wonder, it being before the people were well known in the world; before their religion and government were established, and even before they had obtained a settlement any where. But yet, that the character was fully verified in the event, not only all history testifies, but we have even ocular demonstration at this day. The Jews in their religion and laws, their rites and ceremonies, their manners and customs, were so totally different from all other nations, that they had little intercourse or communion with them. An eminent author (see the Divine Legation, book 2: sec. 6 b. 5: sec. 2.) hath shewn, that there was a general inter-community among the gods of Paganism; but no such thing was allowed between the God of Israel and the gods of other nations: there was to be no fellowship between God and Belial, though there might be between Belial and Dagon; hence the Jews were branded for their inhumanity and unsociableness; and they generally hated, as they were hated by, the rest of mankind. Other nations, the conquerors and the conquered, have often associated, and united as one body under the same laws; but the Jews, in their captivities, have commonly been more bigoted to their own religion, and more tenacious of their own rites and customs, than at other times; and even now, while they are dispersed among all nations, they yet live distinct and separate from all, trading only with others, but eating, marrying, and conversing among themselves. We see, therefore, how exactly and wonderfully Balaam characterised the whole race, from the first to the last, when he said, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. See Dissert. on Prophecies, p. 123.