Numbers 24:14
New International Version
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”

New Living Translation
Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future.”

English Standard Version
And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

King James Bible
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

New King James Version
And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

New American Standard Bible
So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

NASB 1995
“And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

NASB 1977
“And now behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the last days.”

Amplified Bible
And now, look, I am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people [Israel] will do to your people [Moab] in the days to come.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

American Standard Version
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Contemporary English Version
So I'm going back home, but I'm leaving you with a warning about what the Israelites will someday do to your nation."

English Revised Version
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though I'm going back to my people, I'll give you some advice. I'll tell you what these people will do to your people in the days to come."

Good News Translation
Balaam said to Balak, "Now I am going back to my own people, but before I go, I am warning you what the people of Israel will do to your people in the future."

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, since I have to return to my people, come and listen while I tell you what this people will be doing to your people in the last days."

Majority Standard Bible
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

NET Bible
And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future."

New Heart English Bible
Now, look, I go to my people: come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

Webster's Bible Translation
And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, I will advertise thee what this people will do to thy people in the latter days.

World English Bible
Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, I counsel you [concerning] that which this people does to your people in the latter end of the days.”

Young's Literal Translation
and, now, lo, I am going to my people; come, I counsel thee concerning that which this people doth to thy people, in the latter end of the days.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now, behold me going to my people: come, I will advise thee what this people will do to thy people in the last of the days.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But yet going to my people, I will give thee counsel, what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”

New American Bible
“But now that I am about to go to my own people, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

New Revised Standard Version
So now, I am going to my people; let me advise you what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And now, behold. I am going to my land; come, therefore, and I will give you counsel what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now behold, I shall go myself to my land; but come, I shall advise you what this people does to your people in the end of days.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And now, behold, I go unto my people; come, and I will announce to thee what this people shall do to thy people in the end of days.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now, behold, I return to my place; come, I will advise thee of what this people shall do to thy people in the last days.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Dismisses Balaam
13that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says. 14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Cross References
Genesis 49:1
Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:

Deuteronomy 31:29
For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”

Isaiah 2:2
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

Micah 4:1
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.

Daniel 2:28
But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

Daniel 10:14
Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”

Isaiah 11:10
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.

Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Jeremiah 23:20
The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.

Jeremiah 30:24
The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this.

Ezekiel 38:16
You will advance against My people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the latter days, O Gog, that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes.

Matthew 2:2
asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Luke 1:78-79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

John 1:9
The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.


Treasury of Scripture

And now, behold, I go to my people: come therefore, and I will advertise you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.

Numbers 24:3,4
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: …

Numbers 23:7,18
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel…

Job 27:1
Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

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Admonish Advertise Advise Announce Clear Counsel End Latter Warn
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Admonish Advertise Advise Announce Clear Counsel End Latter Warn
Numbers 24
1. Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesies the happiness of Israel
10. Balak, in anger, dismisses him
15. He prophesies of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations














And now behold, I am going to my people
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in Balaam's narrative. The Hebrew word for "behold" is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which is often used to draw attention to something significant. Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, acknowledges his departure, indicating a transition from his role as a seer for hire to returning to his own people. This phrase underscores the temporary nature of his mission and the divine orchestration behind his prophecies. Historically, Balaam's acknowledgment of returning to his people signifies the end of his involvement with Israel, highlighting the sovereignty of God in using even those outside His covenant community to fulfill His purposes.

Come, let me warn you
The word "warn" in Hebrew is "יָעַץ" (ya'ats), which can also mean to advise or counsel. Balaam, despite his previous attempts to curse Israel, is now compelled to offer counsel. This shift from cursing to advising reflects a divine intervention where God turns intended curses into blessings. Theologically, this demonstrates God's protective hand over Israel and His ability to use any situation for His glory. Balaam's role as a counselor here is ironic, given his initial intentions, yet it serves as a reminder of God's ultimate control over human affairs.

what this people will do to your people
The phrase "this people" refers to the Israelites, while "your people" refers to the Moabites and their allies. The Hebrew word for "people" is "עַם" (am), which denotes a nation or group bound by common identity. Balaam's prophecy is not just a prediction but a divine revelation of the future interactions between these nations. Historically, this foreshadows the eventual conflicts and the dominance of Israel over its neighbors. Scripturally, it emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham regarding his descendants' impact on other nations. This prophetic insight serves as a warning and a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant people.

in the days to come
The Hebrew phrase "בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים" (be'acharit hayamim) is often translated as "in the latter days" or "in the end times." This phrase is eschatological, pointing to future events that extend beyond the immediate context. In a conservative Christian perspective, this can be seen as a foreshadowing of the Messianic age and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. The use of this phrase connects Balaam's prophecy to the broader biblical narrative of God's unfolding plan for humanity, culminating in the establishment of His kingdom. It serves as a reminder of the hope and assurance believers have in God's sovereign plan for the future.

(14) I go unto my people.--Such was, probably, the intention of Balaam when he spoke these words. The account of the death of Balaam, however, shows that he still lingered amongst the Moabites.

I will advertise thee . . . --The word which is here employed generally means to advise. The announcement which Balaam made to Balak virtually included advice, inasmuch as it foretold the supremacy of Israel over all their foes, and, consequently, implied the folly of opposition to their progress. It does not appear whether it was or was not at this time that Balaam "taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Revelation 2:14). In any case, there does not appear to be any reference to such advice in this verse, although it is inserted in the Targum of Palestine in this place.

In the latter days.--Literally, in the end of the days. (See Genesis 49:1, where the same expression occurs, and Note.) The prophecy which follows refers exclusively to the future; and it is divided into four parts by the recurrence of the words "He took up his parable" at Numbers 24:15; Numbers 24:20-21; Numbers 24:23. . . .

Verse 14. - I will advertise thee. אִיעָצְך has properly the meaning "advise" (Septuagint, συμβουλεύσω), but it seems to have here the same subordinate sense of giving information which "advise" has with us. The Vulgate here has followed the surmise of the Jewish commentators, who saw nothing in Balaam but the arch-enemy of their race, and has actually altered the text into "dabo consilium quid populus tuus populo huic faciat" (cf. Numbers 31:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now
וְעַתָּ֕ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

I am going back
הוֹלֵ֖ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to my people,
לְעַמִּ֑י (lə·‘am·mî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

but come,
לְכָה֙ (lə·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

let me warn you
אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ (’î·‘ā·ṣə·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve

what
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

this
הַזֶּ֛ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people
הָעָ֥ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

will do
יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to your people
לְעַמְּךָ֖ (lə·‘am·mə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

in the days
הַיָּמִֽים׃ (hay·yā·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

to come.”
בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית (bə·’a·ḥă·rîṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 319: The last, end, the future, posterity


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OT Law: Numbers 24:14 Now behold I go to my people: (Nu Num.)
Numbers 24:13
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