Bible Strands
Numbers 24:18
Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Balaam pronounces this oracle to Balak immediately after describing a future ruler from Jacob who will defeat Moab. The speech addresses Israel’s impending military campaigns against neighboring nations during the wilderness period.
The words — יְרֵשָׁה (yereshah) means to take possession or inheritance, repeated twice to stress territorial transfer. אֱדוֹם (Edom) and שֵׂעִיר (Seir) denote the same mountainous region and its inhabitants, explicitly labeled as enemies.
The thread — The subjugation of this territory appears in 2 Samuel 8:14, where David places garrisons there, and in Amos 9:12, which predicts Israel’s future possession of the land.
Why it lands — The text states that Israel’s military success depends on divine enablement rather than human strength. It requires the reader to acknowledge that territorial outcomes follow God’s declared purposes, not human calculation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
Cross-references
- Amos 9:12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do this.
- 2 Samuel 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- Genesis 27:29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
- Genesis 27:40 You shall live by the sword and serve your brother. But when you rebel, you will tear his yoke from your neck.”
- Genesis 32:3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
- Psalms 60:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!
- Psalms 60:8 Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- Isaiah 34:5 When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
- Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”