Numbers 24:10-25
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
이스라엘 백성이 가나안 입성 직전 모압 지방에 있을 때 발락은 그들의 강성함을 보고 이방선지자 발람에게 이스라엘을 저주해달라고 부탁했습니다. 그러나 발람은 오히려 축복했습니다. 이에 화가 난 발락은 자기가 발람을 존귀하게 하려했지만 여호와가 발람을 막아서 존귀하게 되지 못한다고 말합니다. 발락은 누구인가요? 모압의 왕입니다. 이 세상의 권력을 갖고 있는 자이기 때문에 발락의 말을 보면 자기가 가장 높은 자이고 자기가 남을 존귀하게 만들 수 있다고 생각합니다. 그러나 진정한 존귀함은 여호와 하나님께로부터 나오는 것이고, 이는 하나님의 주권에 달려 있는 것입니다.
When the Israelites were in the plains of Moab just before entering Canaan, Balak, the king of Moab, saw their strength and asked the foreign prophet Balaam to curse Israel. However, Balaam blessed them instead. Angered, Balak said he intended to honor Balaam, but the Lord had prevented him from receiving that honor. Balak is the king of Moab. As someone holding worldly power, he believed that he could make others honorable. However, true honor comes from the Lord God and is subject to His sovereignty.
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’?
14 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.”
하나님은 처음부터 발람에게 이스라엘 백성을 저주하지 말고 그들은 축복받은 민족이라고 말씀하셨습니다. 그러나 많은 재물을 가지고 온 발락의 사람들에게 자기 집에 머물라 하면서 하나님이 무슨 말씀을 하시는지 더 들어본다고 모호한 태도를 보이다가 결국 발락에게로 오기까지 했습니다. 아마도 인간적인 유혹이 있어서 단호하게 하나님의 말씀을 전하지 않았던 것 같습니다. 그러나 다행히 발람은 다시 정신을 차리고 발락이 아무리 많은 은과 금을 준다해도 자기는 하나님의 말씀 그대로를 전한다고 말했습니다. 앞서 발락이 발람에게 화나서 당장 집으로 돌아가라고 했는데, 발람은 자기가 자기 사람들에게 자신의 의지대로 간다고 말하며 발람의 백성들에게 어떤 일이 일어날 것인지를 예언해줍니다.
From the beginning, God instructed Balaam not to curse the Israelites, for they are a blessed people. However, when Balak's messengers arrived with great wealth, Balaam invited them to stay at his house, suggesting he would seek further guidance from God. This response reflected a hesitant attitude, possibly influenced by human temptation, as he did not immediately deliver God's message. Ultimately, Balaam reaffirmed his commitment to convey God's word, stating that even if Balak offered him a house full of silver and gold, he could not act beyond God's command.
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17 “I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls[a] of[b] all the people of Sheth.
18 Edom will be conquered;
Seir, his enemy, will be conquered,
but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations,
but their end will be utter destruction.”
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure,
your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
when Ashur takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[d]
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;
they will subdue Ashur and Eber,
but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
