When are the "last days?" Numbers 24:14-19

We are continuing our study of the prophecies of the last days.

·        Num. 24:14,17-19: It was interesting that Jacob was the first to mention the last days.  He was the father of the twelve tribes and so it makes sense he would be the one to connect Messiah to a specific tribe.  This prophecy is even more interesting in terms of the human mouthpiece.  These are oracles of Balaam, a prophet who was hired by the Moabite King Balak to put a curse on the children of Israel as they neared the time when they would enter Canaan.  Balaam emphasizes the Messiah’s dominion over Moab and Edom.

o   Balaam was not an Israel.  Interestingly, Strong gives the meaning of his name as not of the people.  He was likely a descendent of Shem who, as 24:16 says, hears the words of God and had knowledge of the Most High.  He was apparently well known and revered (Num. 22:6).  The good thing was he spoke only what God allowed Him to speak.  Thus the prophecies of this Gentile are recorded for us.  The bad thing is, he longed for the diviner’s fee offered by Balak and was likely the source of the idea to entice the Israelites to immorality (Num. 25).  Thus he was killed by the Israelites when they took vengeance on Moab.

o   While the New King James translated Gen. 49:1 as last days and Num. 24:14 as latter days the Hebrew terms are the same.  The other messages from Balaam (there are four) are powerful statements of God’s love for and faithfulness to Israel.  But this one is the one that fits our purposes in this study.

o   The prophecy is fairly straightforward.  It promises a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter out of Israel that bring ruin upon Moab and Edom.  This One will have dominion.  It fits Messiah.  However there are some who refer this to David who, in fact, subjugated Moab and Edom (2 Sam. 8:2,14).  In response to this we would not only remind ourselves of the latter days reference, but also of the fact that these same nations at a later time gained their freedom from the David kings.  To this ultimate Messianic fulfillment both the Rabbis and church fathers agree (cf. Matthew Poole’s Commentary on this passage). 

The close connection between David and the Messiah is to be expected, of course.  David is the type in so many ways; and the promise to him was of a Son who would be the consummate King that David only began to be.  Further, both David and his greater Son are recipients of God’s considerable help in subduing the enemies of Israel.  David, in the Psalms, is frequently praying for help for this very reason.  But it is Psalms of David that clearly predict the greater glory of the Messiah (e.g. Psalm 2, 110).  In the latter days this will be fully realized.