Numbers 24:18

Num 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Ver. 18. And Edom shall be a possession.] This was literally fulfilled in David, {1Ch 18:13 Psa 60:8} but spiritually, and especially in Christ, {Isa 63:1-2, &c.} who shall shortly subdue the Romish Edomite. {2Th 2:8}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Num 24:18. Edom shall be a possession — “This was also fulfilled by David; for throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants, 2Sa 8:14. David himself, in two of his Psalms, (Psa 60:8; and Psa 108:9;) hath mentioned together his conquest of Moab and Edom, as they are also joined together in this prophecy.” Seir is the name of the mountains of Edom, which were also possessed by David. Israel shall do valiantly — As they did, particularly under the command of David.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Edom shall be a possession--This prophecy was accomplished by David (Sa2 8:14).

Seir--seen in the south, and poetically used for Edom. The double conquest of Moab and Edom is alluded to (Psa 60:8; Psa 108:9).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 18. And Edom shall be a possession] That is, to DAVID: as it is said: "And all they of Edom became David's servants;" 2Sa 8:14.

Seir also shall be a possession] That is, unto the king MESSIAH; as it is said: "And saviours shall come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's;" Obad., Ob 1:21. See Ainsworth.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also . . . —Better, And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir shall be a possession, for his enemies (i.e., the enemies of Israel, or, rather, of the Ruler who was to rise out of Israel). The Hebrew word (oyebaiv) which is rendered “his enemies” appears to stand in apposition to Edom and Seir, as the word zaraiv (his enemies, or adversaries) in Num_24:8 to “the nations.” Edom was the name of the people, Seir of the country. (See Gen_32:3.) The prophecy received its primary accomplishment in the time of David (2Sa_8:14), but the ultimate accomplishment is to be found in the person and work of Christ (Isa_63:1-4).

And Israel shall do valiantly.—Or, shall acquire power or wealth. (Comp. Deu_8:17-18; Rth_4:11.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. which were his enemies] Heb. has simply ‘his enemies,’ attached very awkwardly to the preceding words. Perhaps a word has been lost, and we should read ‘His enemies ——’ in contrast with the next clause: And Israel doeth valiantly.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,.... Meaning either David, or rather the Messiah; and so Jarchi interprets this of another ruler out of Jacob, even of the Messiah, of whom it is said, he shall have dominion from sea to sea; Psa 72:8,

and shall destroy him, that remaineth of the city; chief city of Edom, or of any of the cities of it, signifying that there should be none left, see Oba 1:18, this is also applied to the days of the Messiah, in the ancient writings of the Jews (q).

(q) Bemidbar Rabba, fol. 179. 3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Seir - The older name of the mountain-land, south of Moab, and east of the Arabah, which the Edomites inhabited Gen 32:3; Gen 36:8-9.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Idumea and Seir. The children of Esau shall acknowledge the dominion of Israel, from David to Josaphat, and again under Hircan, 3 Kings xi. 15., and 4 Kings iii. 20. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] xiii. 17.) (Calmet) --- Not only the faithful Israelites, but also the profane and headstrong sons of Esau, shall bend the knee before Christ, who will subdue them by the power of his grace, and by the preaching of his disciples. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

A possession; which was also foretold Gen 25:23, and in part fulfilled, 2Sa 8:14; 1Ch 18:13, but more fully by Christ, Amo 9:12; Oba 1:18; who shall subdue and possess all his enemies; here signified by the name of Edom; as Jacob or Israel, his brother, signifies all his church and people. Seir, a part and mountain of Edom, Gen 36:8, which may be here mentioned as the strongest part of Edom, to show that not only the rest of Edom, which is more accessible, but even the rocks and best munitions of it, shall be taken.

His enemies, the Israelites.

Do valiantly, or, gain power, or riches, or victory, all which are comprehended in this phrase.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. Edom… a possession — As predicted in Gen_25:23, and fulfilled in 2Sa_8:14. As a kindred nation Edom might have had permanent peace with Israel, who was forbidden to war with them (Deu_2:4-5;) but their bitter hostility to God’s people caused their overthrow, which David began and his greater Son will finish in the “end of the days.” Psalms 110. Edom, after various insurrections, (1Ki_11:14-22; 2Ki_8:20; 2Ki_14:7; 2Ki_14:22, note; 2Ch_28:17; Eze_36:5; Oba_1:10; Oba_1:13; 1Ma_5:3; 1Ma_5:65; 2Ma_10:15; 2Ma_12:33,) was at last conquered by John Hyrcanus 129 B.C., and forced to submit to circumcision and to be merged in the Jewish state, there to rule in the persons of Antipater and the Herods till the overthrow of the Romans.

Seir — The mountain home of Esau. Gen_36:8-9.

Israel shall do valiantly — Quoted by David after the conquest of Edom, Psa_60:12.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies. Seir, (Gen_32:3) or Mount Seir, (Gen_36:8) was the old name, still retained as an alternative, of Edom. It is uncertain whether the rendering "for his (i.e., Edom"s) enemies" is correct. The Hebrew is simply wybyao, which may stand in apposition to Edom and Seir, "his enemies," i.e., the enemies of Israel. So the Septuagint, Hsau o ecyro . Shall do valiantly, or, "shall be prosperous". (cf. Deu_8:17 Rth_4:11)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A possession - Which was also foretold, Gen. xxv, 23, and in part fulfilled, 2 Sam. viii, 14; 1 Chron. xviii, 13, but more fully by Christ, Amos ix, 12 Obad. i, 18, who shall subdue and possess all his enemies; here signified by the name of Edom, as Jacob or Israel, his brother, signifies all his church and people. Seir - A part and, mountain of Edom.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

"And Edom becomes a possession, and Seir becomes a possession, its enemies; but Israel acquires power." Whose possession Edom and Seir are to become, is not expressly stated; but it is evident from the context, and from איביו (its enemies), which is not a genitive dependent upon Seir, but is in apposition to Edom and Seir, just as צריו in Num 24:8 is in apposition to גּוים. Edom and Seir were his, i.e., Israel's enemies; therefore they were to be taken by the ruler who was to arise out of Israel. Edom is the name of the people, Seir of the country, just as in Gen 32:4; so that Seir is not to be understood as relating to the prae-Edomitish population of the land, which had been subjugated by the descendants of Esau, and had lost all its independence a long time before. In Moses' days the Israelites were not allowed to fight with the Edomites, even when they refused to allow them to pass peaceably through their territory (see Num 20:21), but were commanded to leave them in their possessions as a brother nation (Deu 2:4-5). In the future, however, their relation to one another was to be a very different one; because the hostility of Edom, already in existence, grew more and more into obstinate and daring enmity, which broke up all the ties of affection that Israel was to regard as holy, and thus brought about the destruction of the Edomites. - The fulfilment of this prophecy commenced with the subjugation of the Edomites by David (Sa2 8:14; Kg1 11:15-16; Ch1 18:12-13), but it will not be completed till "the end of the days," when all the enemies of God and His Church will be made the footstool of Christ (Psa 110:1.). That David did not complete the subjugation of Edom is evident, on the one hand, from the fact that the Edomites revolted again under Solomon, though without success (Kg1 11:14.); that they shook off the yoke imposed upon them under Joram (Kg2 8:20); and notwithstanding their defeat by Amaziah (Kg2 14:7; Ch2 25:11) and Uzziah (Kg2 14:22; Ch2 26:2), invaded Judah a second time under Ahaz (Ch2 28:17), and afterwards availed themselves of every opportunity to manifest their hostility to the kingdom of Judah and the Jews generally, - as for example at the conquest of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans (Eze 35:15; Eze 36:5; Oba 1:10 and Oba 1:13), and in the wars between the Maccabees and the Syrians (1 Macc. 5:3, 65; 2 Macc. 10:15; 12:38ff.), - until they were eventually conquered by John Hyrcanus in the year b.c. 129, and compelled to submit to circumcision, and incorporated in the Jewish state (Josephus, Ant. xiii. 9, 1, xv. 7, 9; Wars of the Jews, iv. 5, 5). But notwithstanding this, they got the government over the Jews into their own hands through Antipater and Herod (Josephus, Ant. xiv. 8, 5), and only disappeared from the stage of history with the destruction of the Jewish state by the Romans. On the other hand, the declarations of the prophets (Amo 9:12; Oba 1:17.), which foretell, with an unmistakeable allusion to this prophecy, the possession of the remnant of Edom by the kingdom of Israel, and the announcements in Isa 34 and Isa 63:1-6, Jer 49:7., Eze 25:12. and Eze 35:1-15, comp. with Psa 137:7 and Lam 4:21-22, prove still more clearly that Edom, as the leading foe of the kingdom of God, will only be utterly destroyed when the victory of the latter over the hostile power of the world has been fully and finally secured. - Whilst Edom falls, Israel will acquire power. חיל עשׂה, to acquire ability or power (Deu 8:17-18; Rut 4:11), not merely to show itself brave or strong. It is rendered correctly by Onkelos, "prosperabitur in opibus;" and Jonathan, "praevalebunt in opibus et possidebunt eos."

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

General Information:

Balaam finishes the first of his four prophecies.

Edom will become a possession of Israel

This can be stated in active form. AT: "The Israelites will occupy Edom" (See: Active or Passive)

Seir will also become their possession

Here "Seir" refers to the people who lived near Mount Seir. This can be stated in active form. AT: "Israel will also conquer the people of Seir" (See: Active or Passive and Metonymy)

Out of Jacob a king will come

Jacob was the ancestor of the Israelites. "Jacob" is a metonym that refers to the whole people group. (See: Metonymy)

of their city

This refers to the city of Ar where Balak met Balaam. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

translationWords

Edom

possess

adversary

king

dominion

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

והיה ירשה שעיר איביו SEIR ALSO SHALL BE A POSSESSION [FOR HIS ENEMIES] — for his enemy, Israel.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

AND EDOM SHALL BE A POSSESSION, SEIR ALSO, EVEN HIS ENEMIES SHALL BE A POSSESSION. The downfall of Edom will be by the hand of the Messiah, because our present exile under the hand of Rome is considered Edom’s [exile], just as it is said: The punishment of thine iniquity is absolved, O daughter of Zion, He will no more carry thee away into captivity; He will punish thine iniquity, O ‘daughter of Edom,’ He will uncover thy sins — for G-d will not punish Edom until the sins of Zion are absolved, at the time when He will no more keep them in captivity. Therefore Balaam mentioned Edom, for it is he who disputes our [right to] kingdom, and about him it has been said, and the one people shall be stronger than the other. ). Balaam was thus prophesying that Edom will not completely fall until the time of the end [of the exile] by the hand of ‘the star’ [i.e., the Messiah] who will step forth out of Jacob [as stated in the previous verse].Seir also, even his enemies shall be a possession. This means that Seir will become a possession of his enemies [i.e., of Israel]. is to be interpreted as to his enemies. Or [the term] his enemies may refer to [Jacob’s enemies, i.e.,] Edom and Seir mentioned [previously in the verse], who are the enemies of Jacob, [and the meaning of the verse would thus be: “Edom, and Seir also, who are the enemies of Israel] will become a possession [of Israel].”

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.