Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
Parallel Translations
-
Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
-
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
-
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession; while Israel doeth valiantly.
Cross-references (9)
Passages linked to Numbers 24:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Amos 9:12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations who are called by my name,” says Yahweh who does this.
- Genesis 27:29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”
- 2 Samuel 8:14 He put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
- Genesis 27:40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. It will happen, when you will break loose, that you will shake his yoke from off your neck.”
- Genesis 32:3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.
- Psalms 60:1 God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
- Psalms 60:8-12 Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.” Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom? Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God. Give us help against the adversary, for the help of man is vain. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
- Isaiah 34:5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment.
- Isaiah 63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who is this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Num 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir…
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.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain A possession; which was also foretold Gen 25:23, and…
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.
Read full note →
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.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have…
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).
Read full note →
(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.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain A possession - Which was also foretold, Gen. xxv,…
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.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 18. And Edom shall be a possession] That…
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.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Num 24:18. Edom shall be a possession — “This…
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.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Seir - The older name of the mountain-land, south…
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.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Idumea and Seir. The children of Esau shall acknowledge…
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).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Edom shall be a possession--This prophecy was accomplished by…
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.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 18. Edom… a possession — As predicted in Gen_25:23,…
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.
Read full note →
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.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. which were his enemies] Heb. has simply ‘his…
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.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (18) And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also…
(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.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies.…
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.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Balaam finishes the first of his four prophecies.
Read full note →
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.