Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
The verse belongs to Balaam's unwilling prophecy of blessing over Israel. Balak repeatedly tried to turn that blessing into a curse, but failed. In its immediate historical sense it meant Israel would conquer the Canaanites and settle in their land, and that attempts to subdue Israel would fail and Israel would finally triumph over its enemies. Its words foretell a ruler coming from Jacob who will exercise dominion and destroy the survivor from the city, the surviving power of a city.
This dominion belongs with the prophecy of a Star coming from Jacob and a Scepter from Israel. The prophecy is of the world's Redeemer, pointing to Christ's first and second advents. It announces dominion arising from Jacob with the overthrow of hostile powers and the final destruction of God's enemies.
Its concluding prediction is Israel's triumph in the destruction of Moab and Edom, leaving Moab's king without hope, with the complete account extending that destruction to Amalek and the Kenites.
The verse belongs to Balaam's unwilling prophecy of blessing over Israel. Balak repeatedly tried to turn that blessing into a curse, but failed. In its immediate historical sense it meant Israel would conquer the Canaanites and settle in their land, and that attempts to subdue Israel would fail and Israel would finally triumph over its enemies. Its words foretell a ruler coming from Jacob who will exercise dominion and destroy the survivor from the city, the surviving power of a city.
This dominion belongs with the prophecy of a Star coming from Jacob and a Scepter from Israel. The prophecy is of the world's Redeemer, pointing to Christ's first and second advents. It announces dominion arising from Jacob with the overthrow of hostile powers and the final destruction of God's enemies.
Its concluding prediction is Israel's triumph in the destruction of Moab and Edom, leaving Moab's king without hope, with the complete account extending that destruction to Amalek and the Kenites.