Numbers 24, 17

[CyrilSebastian]

In The Book of Numbers, Chapter 24 Verse 17 states:
I see him, though not now;
I behold him, though not now;
A star shall advance from Jacob,
and a staff shall rise from Israel,

A biblical footnote mentioned: A star…a staff: many of the Fathers have understood this as a Messianic prophecy, although it is not referred to anywhere in the New Testament; in this sense the star is Christ himself, just as he is the staff from Israel. It is doubtful whether this passage is to be connected with the “star of the Magi” in Mt 2, 11-12.
Please explain.

 

[Mintaka]

It’s mentioned.

Consider the fact that right after that passage, it talks about “and he shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.”

Consider the fact that Herod was descended from Moabites. This was his least favorite prophecy, and everybody in Israel knew it. So that was why he had to kill any potential Messiahs dead. (Since he wasn’t the kind to kneel and hand over the kingdom.)

Sometimes the New Testament writers assume that we know the implications and contexts of the OT better than most of us do.

 

[irenaeuslyons]

|Holy Bible (Douay Rheims)

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Num 24:17 • “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel: and shall strike the chiefs of Moab, and shall waste all the children of Seth.”

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Reference**Mt 2:2** • “Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him.”

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CommentaryVer. 17. Him. The great personage whom I have in view, whose coming is deferred yet for many ages. H. — The whole prediction refers to the Messias, whom Balaam beheld by the eyes of his posterity, the wise men, (C.) or in the prophetic vision. M. — Some modern Rabbins pretend that he speaks of David, who was indeed a figure of Christ, (C.) and defeated the Moabites, 2 K. v. 8. But the prophecy was perfectly fulfilled only in our Saviour’s person, who is called the bright and morning star, (Apoc. xxii. 16,) to whom all nations were given for an inheritance. Ps. ii. Acts i. 8. W. — Heb. also, “I see this thy ruin, but,” &c. Sept. “I will shew to him, yet not now; I will make him happy, (C.); but (makarizo, I bless) it, or he does not approach.” God executed what he ever promised in favour of all Israel, when he sent them his beloved Son. — A star. Christ, the light of the world, the splendour of his Father’s glory, whose birth was made known in the East, by a star, or meteor of unusual brightness. H. — This material star is not the primary object of the prediction, since it did not rise out of Jacob, but it pointed out the orient from on high, and then disappeared. The ancient Jews understood this passage of the Messias. Onkelos, &c. Hence the impostor, Ben. Cusiba, took advantage of this general opinion, to draw the people after him, as the person designated; when he assumed the title of Bar-chocheba, “the son of the star,” in the second age of the church. — Of Seth. Though David, as the figure of the Messias, conquered the Moabites, he cannot be said to have subdued all nations, the descendants of Seth, by Noe, nor all the just of whom Seth was the father, in opposition to the children of Cain. But Christ will subject all the just to his empire, and will judge all mankind. Some, nevertheless, take the children of Seth to be the Moabites, who had been already mentioned; and Junius translates the Heb. with allusion to the shameful origin of that people. The Samar. may also signify, if we substitute d for r in korkor, as Jeremias also reads (C. xlviii. 45,) kodod. “He shall penetrate the ends of Moab, and shall overturn the walls of the children of elevation, or of pride.” There were many hills in the country of the Moabites, and the people were noted for haughtiness. Jer. xlviii. 28. 29. 45. C. — Some also assert, that Seth was the name of a king, (Grot.) and of a town of Moab. R. Nathan. — But of this there is no proof. H.

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