Bible Commentary

Numbers 24:8

Numbers 24:8

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

And shall break their bones. יְגָרֵם (cf. ) seems to mean "crush" or "smash." The Septuagint has ἐκμυελιεῖ, "shall suck out," i.e; the marrow, but the word does not seem to bear this meaning.

Pierce them through with his arrows, or, "dash in pieces his arrows," i.e; the arrows shot at him. חִחָּיו יְמִחָץ. The difficulty is the possessive suffix to "arrows," which is in the singular; otherwise this rendering gives a much better sense, and more in keeping with the rest of the passage The image in Balaam's mind is evidently that of a terrible wild beast devouring his enemies, stamping them underfoot, and dashing to pieces in his fury the arrows or darts which they vainly launch against him (compare the imagery in ).

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