He couched, he lay down as a lion— This verse, as well as the 24th of the former chapter, refers to the entire victory which the Israelites should obtain over their enemies, and to their perfect and quiet possession of the land of Canaan. Naturalists inform us, that the lion never retires into any private place to sleep; but, confident in his own courage, sleeps all the night in an open place, as if he knew that nobody durst attack him while he slept. See Scheuchzer, vol. 4: p. 31. "These passages," says Bishop Newton, "are a manifest prophecy of the victory which the Israelites should gain over their enemies, and particularly the Canaanites, and of their secure possession and quiet enjoyment of the land afterwards, and particularly in the reigns of David and Solomon." It is remarkable too, that God hath here put into the mouth of Balaam much the same things which Jacob had before predicted of Judah, Genesis 49:9 and Isaac had predicted of Jacob, Genesis 27:29. Such analogy and harmony is there between the prophesies of Scripture.
REFLECTIONS.—Convinced now how vain were his enchantments, Balaam retires no more to ask counsel, but sets his face toward the camp of Israel, and the spirit of prophesy comes upon him. 1. He prefaces his parable with a declaration of the visions that he was favoured with, and the distinctness of his views of the events that he predicted. Poor subject of boasting! while his heart remained unchanged, his knowledge rendered him but the more guilty. Note; It is not light in the understanding, but grace in the heart, that is the truly valuable blessing. 2. He admires the beauty of Israel's host, and their regularity and order; spacious as the valleys, pleasing to look upon as a blooming garden, fragrant as the smell of aloes, and strong as the cedar. The church of God, in this valley of humiliation, is inclosed like a garden from the world around it, watered with the rivers of divine love, adorned with graces more fragrant than spices: and every believer is a tree of righteousness planted of God, more flourishing than the cedar of Libanus. 3. He foretels the plenty, honour, and conquer which God would give them from heaven: his rain shall water their furrows; their kings shall eclipse the glory of the most renowned monarchs; and their people, strong as the unicorn, shall push their enemies the Canaanites, as they have done the Egyptians, till they have destroyed them, and dwell in peaceful security; none daring to disturb them in their possessions, any more than to rouse the slumbering lion. Note; Great is the glory of God's spiritual Israel, every faithful believer shall be a king upon his throne, and receive a kingdom not only higher than Agag's but also eternal in the heavens.