RSEA.D. Week 117

  • Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 23:1 – 25:9
  • Prophets (P): Isaiah 49:23-26
  • Apostolic (A): Revelation 2:12-17
  • Additional (ADD): Sirach 45:23-26

Summary

We continue through the account of Balaam going with Balak to curse the people of Israel for hire. “I (Balak) thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, YHWH has kept you back from honor.” (Numbers 24:11)

  1. Balaam tells Balak to build seven altars shrines. The Hebrew word מִזְבֵּחַ mizbeach (H4196) means “altar” but the 72 Jewish translators of the Septuagint (oldest translation of Torah from original Hebrew to Greek and first ever be translation into another language) chose to translate מִזְבֵּחַ mizbeach to βωμός bomos (G1041); an elevated place which is often, but not always, a raised place to offer a sacrifice. When referring to pagan “altars” the pre-Judaism Jewish translators of the Septuagint use βωμός bomos which is more accurately translated to “shrine” instead of altar and used only 9 times in the Torah of the Septuagint (cf. Exodus 34:13; Numbers 23:1,2,4,14,29,30; Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:3) . This is different from the Biblical altar where holy sacrifices are offered and use the word θυσιαστήριον thysiastērion (G2379) which is the altar for slaying and burning of animals and incense (compare Exodus 34:13 and Deuteronomy 7:5 to Genesis 8:20) and used over 100 times in the Torah of the Septuagint. Of the 22 times the word “altar” is used in the Apostolic Scriptures, βωμός bomos is chosen once in Act 17:23 (all the others use θυσιαστήριον thysiastērion); “For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar (βωμός bomos) with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you.”
  2. Balaam spoke 7 parables which included prophecies regarding the people of Israel, Edom, Gog, Seir, Amalek, the Kenites, Asshur (Assyria), and more, including Messiah Yeshua.
  3. Numbers 25 shows us the way Balaam caused the people to be “cursed” by committing sin. “But it will come to pass, if you will not listen to YHWH your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come on you and overtake you.” (Deuteronomy 28:15)
    1. Numbers 25:1-3; “Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab; 2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their elohim. The people ate and bowed down to their elohim. 3 Israel yoked himself to Baal Peor, and YHWH’s anger burned against Israel.”
    2. פִּינְחָס Pinchas or Phinehas (H6372) literally means “mouth of the serpent” and is a compound of the word פֶּה peh (H6310) “mouth” and נָחָשׁ nachash (H5175) “serpent”.
    3. Numbers 25:7-8; “When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw, he rose up from the middle of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand. 8 He went after the man of Israel into the alcove, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the smiting was stopped among the sons of Israel.”
    4. Sirach 45:23-24; “And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away, And he made reconciliation for Israel. 24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace established for him, That he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people; That he and his seed Should have the dignity of the priesthood forever.”
    5. Psalms 106:28-31; They yoked themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped. 31 That was credited to him for righteousness, for all generations to come.
    6. 1 Maccabees 2:54; “Phinehas our father, for that he was zealous exceedingly, obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.”
  4. Νικολαιτής Nicolaitans means “Followers of Nicolaus.” The Greek name Νικόλαος Nicolaus (G3531) means “destruction of the people” and coincides with בִּלְעָם Bilam which means “Swallowing of the People”.

Exhortation

The Spirit of Elohim came upon Balaam twice (Numbers 23:6 and Numbers 24:2) and both times he prophesied of Messiah Yeshua.

  1. Numbers 23:5-10; “[Elohim](DSS) put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you will speak.” 6 He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab [and the Spirit of Elohim came upon him].(LXX)…Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and will not be listed among the nations. 10 Who has [exactly counted](LXX) the [seed](LXX) of Jacob, [and who will number the peoples](LXX) of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! (cf. Matthew 27:4; Matthew 27:24; John 11:49-53; Hebrews 11:4 to Hebrews 12:24; Romans 6:6-8) Let my last end be like his!” Numbers 23:16-24; 16 [Elohim](DSS)(LXX) met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.” …Elohim is not a man, that he will lie, nor a son of man, that he will comfort himself. Did he say, and will he not do, and did he speak, and will he not [make her rise]?(MTT) … 20 Behold, I have received to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it. 21 He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. (cf. Psalms 32:1-2; Psalms 51:9; Jeremiah 50:20; Romans 4:7) YHWH his Elohim is with him. (cf. John 8:16; John 8:29; John 14:9; John 16:32; John 17:5). The shout of a king among them (cf. Matthew 21:1-11) 22 Elohim brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox (cf. Numbers 24:8). 23 Surely no foretelling with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has Elohim done!’ 24 Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He will not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
  2. Numbers 24:2 Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of Elohim came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says; 4 he says, who hears the words of Elohim, who sees the vision of the Almighty [in sleep],(LXX) and having his eyes open: 5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel! 6 As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, [like tents that YHWH has set up],(DSS)(LXX) as cedar trees beside the waters. 7 [There will come a man out of his seed, and he will rule over many nations.](LXX) His king will be higher than [Gog].(LXX)(SP) His reign will be exalted. 8 Elohim brings him out of Egypt. (cf. Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-15) He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He will consume the nations his adversaries, will break their bones in pieces, and pierce with his arrows. 9 He couched, he [stretches out](DSS) as a lion, as a lioness; who will rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.” … 14 Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” 15 He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says; 16 he says, who hears the words of Elohim, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty [in sleep],(LXX) and having his eyes open: 17 I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. (cf. Matthew 2:2) A scepter will rise out of Israel, (cf. Psalms 2:9 to Hebrews 1:8; Revelation 12:5) and will strike through the corners of Moab, and the [crown](SP) of the sons of [tumult](SP) (cf. Jeremiah 48:45) 18 Edom will be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also will be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob will one have dominion, and will destroy the remnant from the city.” (cf. Psalms 110:1 to Matthew 22:42-46; Acts 2:34-36; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 11:11-14)

Application

How are you zealous for the Torah and good works in your life?

  1. Acts 21:20 They, when they heard it, glorified Elohim. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Judeans of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Torah.
  2. Titus 2:14-15 …who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:12; So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
  4. Galatians 4:15-18 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.