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Numbers 24:20

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Numbers 24:20

Verse 20 of 25

Scripture focus

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

Numbers 24:20 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Numbers 24:20

Theological / Devotional

When he looked on Amalek. Presumably not by physical sight, but prophetically, as he stood on top of Mt. Peor (Num. 23:28; cf. Gen. 36:12; Ex. 17:8; Num. 14:25, 43).

Amalek. Many take this to be a general reference to all the enemies of Israel, Amalek being given as a type.

The first of the nations. Eliphaz the son of Esau was the ancestor of the Amalekites (Gen. 36:12). However, the word “first” may have reference to the Amalekites as the first people to attack the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt (Ex. 17:8). The word may be used of either rank or time.

Perish for ever. Destruction was decreed for the Amalekites when they attacked Israel (Ex. 17:14, 16). King Saul was later commanded to execute the sentence (1 Sam. 15:3, 15); and King David inflicted severe losses upon them (1 Sam. 30). They were apparently exterminated in the time of Hezekiah (1 Chron. 4:42, 43; see also on Gen. 36:12).

By SdaBc