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Numbers 24:4 - Prophet's divine vision revealed

Numbers 24:4 - במדבר 24:4

Hebrew Text

נְאֻם שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי־אֵל אֲשֶׁר מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם׃

English Translation

the saying of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes open:

Transliteration

Ne'um shome'a imrei-El asher machazeh Shadai yechezeh nofel u-glui einayim.

Hebrew Leining Text

נְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃
נְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Numbers 24:4) is part of the prophecy of Balaam (Bilam), a non-Jewish prophet who was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Jewish people. Despite his intentions, Balaam was compelled by Hashem to bless Israel instead. The verse describes Balaam's prophetic state, emphasizing his unique—though flawed—connection to divine revelation.

Explanation of the Phrase "נְאֻם שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי־אֵל"

Rashi explains that "נְאֻם שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי־אֵל" ("the saying of him who hears the words of God") refers to Balaam's ability to receive divine communication, albeit in a diminished form compared to the prophets of Israel. The Sforno adds that Balaam's prophecy was granted to him only at specific times, unlike the continuous prophetic connection of Moshe Rabbeinu.

Meaning of "מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה"

The phrase "מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה" ("who sees the vision of the Almighty") indicates that Balaam experienced prophetic visions. The Ramban notes that the term "שַׁדַּי" (Almighty) is used here to signify Hashem's mastery over creation, reinforcing that Balaam's visions were controlled entirely by divine will.

Interpretation of "נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם"

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105a) discusses the paradoxical description of Balaam as "נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם" ("falling down, but having his eyes open"). Rashi explains that Balaam would fall into a trance-like state when receiving prophecy, yet his eyes remained open—a sign of his incomplete and unnatural prophetic experience. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 20:12) contrasts this with Moshe, who prophesied while fully conscious and standing, highlighting the superiority of Moshe's prophecy.

Balaam’s Prophecy in Contrast to Jewish Prophets

  • Rambam (Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah 7:1-2): Balaam's prophecy was granted to him as a tool for divine purposes, not due to his spiritual greatness. Jewish prophets, however, achieved prophecy through rigorous spiritual refinement.
  • Malbim: Balaam’s "falling" state symbolizes his moral and spiritual decline, despite his prophetic gifts. True prophets of Israel, like Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu, prophesied from a place of moral clarity and divine closeness.

Lessons from the Verse

The Or HaChaim emphasizes that this verse teaches that prophecy is not inherently tied to righteousness—Balaam was granted divine insight despite his wickedness, demonstrating that Hashem may use even flawed individuals to fulfill His will. However, the ultimate purpose of Balaam’s blessings was to glorify the Jewish people, as seen in the subsequent verses.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is speaking in Numbers 24:4?
A: The speaker in Numbers 24:4 is Balaam, a non-Jewish prophet who was hired to curse the Jewish people but was instead compelled by God to bless them. According to Rashi, this verse describes Balaam's prophetic state when he received divine messages about Israel.
Q: What does 'falling down but having his eyes open' mean in this verse?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b) explains that Balaam's prophecy was different from other prophets. While most prophets receive visions while in a lofty, elevated state, Balaam received his prophecy in a lowered state ('falling down'), yet with clear awareness ('eyes open'). This shows his prophecy came through divine compulsion rather than spiritual elevation.
Q: Why is this description of prophecy important?
A: This verse is important because it teaches about the nature of prophecy. The Rambam (Maimonides) in Yesodei HaTorah explains that true prophecy comes from God, regardless of the prophet's personal worthiness. Balaam's case shows that even someone with questionable intentions could receive authentic prophecy when God wills it, though his personal conduct was condemned by our sages.