Numbers 24:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Balaam, the son of Beor, hath said— There seems to be no reason for understanding this introduction, with Bishop Patrick, as a proof of Balaam's vanity; since it is agreeable to the ordinary style of all the prophets. See Isaiah 1:1.Jeremiah 1:1.Ezekiel 1:3. The next clause, The man whose eyes are open, should rather be, whose eyes are opened; which agrees exactly with the version of the Vulgate, approved by Le Clerc and Calmet; the man whose eyes were shut, formerly shut, but now opened; referring either to that part of the history, wherein we are told, that though the ass saw the angel, Balaam saw him not, till the Lord opened his eyes; or to that more sublime intelligence wherewith God had now enlightened his understanding; the man whose eyes are opened to the wonderful knowledge of future things, through God's spirit. The 1st verse shews that his mind was thus illuminated: there Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord, &c.; and in the 4th verse we are told to what his eyes were opened: he saw this vision of the Almighty.