Numbers 24:14 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

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. Numbers 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. Numbers 31:16 with Revelation 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, Numbers 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.