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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 23:9 For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/23-9.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/04_Num_23_09.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 23:9 - Balaam's First Oracle" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. 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I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, Not reckoning itself among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“For I see him from the top of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; Behold, a people that lives in isolation, And does not consider itself <i>to be</i> among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220As I see him from the top of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; Behold, a people who dwells apart, And will not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“As I see him from the top of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; Behold, a people <i>who</i> dwells apart, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For I see him from the top of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; Behold, a people <i>who</i> dwells alone, And will not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“For from the top of the rocks I see Israel, And from the hills I look at him. Behold, the people [of Israel] shall dwell alone And will not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I see them from the top of rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. There is a people living alone; it does not consider itself among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I see them from the top of rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. There is a people living alone; it does not consider itself among the nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"From the mountain peaks, I look down and see Israel, the obedient people of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, it is a people that dwell alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I see them from the top of rocky cliffs, I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself, people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />From the high rocks I can see them; I can watch them from the hills. They are a nation that lives alone; They know they are blessed more than other nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I saw them from the top of the rocks. I watched them from the hills. Truly this is a people that lives by itself and doesn't matter among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see them; from the hills I watch them. Indeed, a nation that lives alone, and it will not be reckoned among the nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Look, it is a people that dwells alone, and not counting itself among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be listed among the nations. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For from the top of rocks I see him, "" And from heights I behold him; Behold a people! He dwells alone, "" And does not reckon himself among nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For from the top of rocks I see it, And from heights I behold it; Lo a people! alone it doth tabernacle, And among nations doth not reckon itself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />From the head of the rocks I shall see him, and from the hills I shall look after him: behold, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I shall see him from the tops of the rocks, and shall consider him from the hills. This people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />I will look upon him from the tops of the stones, and I will consider him from the hills. This people shall dwell alone, and they shall not be counted among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the crags I see him, from the heights I behold him. Here is a people that lives apart and does not reckon itself among the nations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him. Here is a people living alone, and not reckoning itself among the nations!<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For from the top of the mountains I see him, and from the hills I behold him; lo, the people are dwelling alone and are not reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because from the top of the mountains I saw him, and from Ramtha, his limit; behold the people dwells alone and is not counted among the nations.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, it is a people that shall dwell alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For from the top of the mountains I shall see him, and from the hills I shall observe him: behold, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/23-9.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=7298" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/23.htm">Balaam's First Oracle</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced? <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: ’er·’en·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">I see them</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: mê·rōš (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">from atop</a> <a href="/hebrew/6697.htm" title="6697: ṣu·rîm (N-mp) -- Rock, cliff. Or tsur; from tsuwr; properly, a cliff; generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge.">the rocky cliffs,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7789.htm" title="7789: ’ă·šū·ren·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- To behold, regard. A primitive root; to spy out, i.e. survey, lurk for, care for.">and I watch them</a> <a href="/hebrew/1389.htm" title="1389: ū·mig·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ (Conj-w, Prep-m:: N-fp) -- A hill. Feminine from the same as Geba'; a hillock.">from the hills.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hen- (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if.">Behold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘ām (N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">a people</a> <a href="/hebrew/7931.htm" title="7931: yiš·kōn (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root (by transmission) to shakab through the idea of lodging; compare cikluwth, shakam); to reside or permanently stay.">dwelling</a> <a href="/hebrew/910.htm" title="910: lə·ḇā·ḏāḏ (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Isolation, separation. From badad; separate; adverb, separately.">apart,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">not</a> <a href="/hebrew/2803.htm" title="2803: yiṯ·ḥaš·šāḇ (V-Hitpael-Imperf-3ms) -- To think, account. ">reckoning themselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: ū·ḇag·gō·w·yim (Conj-w, Prep-b, Art:: N-mp) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">among the nations.</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-28.htm">Deuteronomy 33:28</a></span><br />So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5-6</a></span><br />Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/49-6.htm">Isaiah 49:6</a></span><br />He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/43-21.htm">Isaiah 43:21</a></span><br />The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/147-20.htm">Psalm 147:20</a></span><br />He has done this for no other nation; they do not know His judgments. Hallelujah!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/3-2.htm">Amos 3:2</a></span><br />“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/17-14.htm">John 17:14-16</a></span><br />I have given them Your word and the world has hated them. For they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. / I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. / They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-4.htm">Romans 9:4-5</a></span><br />the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. / Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/2-12.htm">Ephesians 2:12</a></span><br />remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/31-1.htm">Jeremiah 31:1</a></span><br />“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/7-15.htm">Micah 7:15</a></span><br />As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show My wonders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-14.htm">Matthew 5:14</a></span><br />You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/15-14.htm">Acts 15:14</a></span><br />Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/5-9.htm">Revelation 5:9-10</a></span><br />And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. / You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: see, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.</p><p class="hdg">the people.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5,6</a></b></br> Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth <i>is</i> mine: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/33-16.htm">Exodus 33:16</a></b></br> For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? <i>is it</i> not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that <i>are</i> upon the face of the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/33-28.htm">Deuteronomy 33:28</a></b></br> Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob <i>shall be</i> upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.</p><p class="hdg">shall not</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/32-8.htm">Deuteronomy 32:8</a></b></br> When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezra/9-2.htm">Ezra 9:2</a></b></br> For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of <i>those</i> lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/46-28.htm">Jeremiah 46:28</a></b></br> Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I <i>am</i> with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/18-23.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/numbers/18-32.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-8.htm">Consider</a> <a href="/numbers/20-15.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/numbers/21-34.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/numbers/13-29.htm">Dwells</a> <a href="/numbers/21-28.htm">Heights</a> <a href="/genesis/49-26.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/numbers/9-19.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/numbers/22-33.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/23-7.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/numbers/14-15.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/numbers/14-29.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/psalms/95-4.htm">Peaks</a> <a href="/numbers/4-32.htm">Reckon</a> <a href="/numbers/18-30.htm">Reckoned</a> <a href="/numbers/3-47.htm">Reckoning</a> <a href="/revelation/6-16.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/jude/1-12.htm">Rocky</a> <a href="/numbers/16-9.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/numbers/20-6.htm">Tabernacle</a> <a href="/numbers/20-29.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/numbers/13-21.htm">View</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/1-9.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/numbers/28-23.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-39.htm">Consider</a> <a href="/numbers/32-17.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/numbers/24-2.htm">Dwelling</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-12.htm">Dwells</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-13.htm">Heights</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-7.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/numbers/23-24.htm">Itself</a> <a href="/numbers/24-23.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/33-47.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/numbers/24-7.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/numbers/23-10.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/psalms/42-6.htm">Peaks</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-4.htm">Reckon</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-11.htm">Reckoned</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-7.htm">Reckoning</a> <a href="/joshua/7-26.htm">Rocks</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-4.htm">Rocky</a> <a href="/numbers/28-13.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/numbers/25-6.htm">Tabernacle</a> <a href="/numbers/23-24.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/numbers/33-3.htm">View</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/23-1.htm">Balak's sacrifices</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs</b><br>This phrase indicates a vantage point of observation, suggesting a position of insight and revelation. In the biblical narrative, Balaam is speaking, and his position on the rocky cliffs symbolizes a place of divine perspective. The rocky cliffs could be associated with the high places often used for worship and sacrifices in ancient times, indicating a place where one might encounter the divine. This setting underscores the idea that Balaam's vision is not merely human but divinely inspired. The imagery of rocky cliffs also evokes the idea of strength and permanence, qualities attributed to God's people.<p><b>and I watch them from the hills</b><br>The hills provide a panoramic view, suggesting a comprehensive understanding of the people of Israel. In the ancient Near East, hills were often seen as places closer to the divine realm, reinforcing the notion of a prophetic vision. This phrase emphasizes the separation between the observer and the observed, highlighting the distinctiveness of Israel. The act of watching implies careful consideration and attention, suggesting that Israel's destiny is of significant interest to God and His prophets.<p><b>Behold, a people dwelling apart</b><br>This statement highlights the unique identity of Israel as a nation set apart by God. The concept of being "set apart" is central to Israel's covenant relationship with God, as seen in passages like <a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5-6</a>, where Israel is described as a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation." This separateness is both a privilege and a responsibility, as Israel is called to live according to God's laws and serve as a witness to the nations. The idea of dwelling apart also foreshadows the New Testament concept of the Church as a distinct community in the world.<p><b>not reckoning themselves among the nations</b><br>This phrase underscores Israel's distinct identity and mission. Unlike other nations, Israel's identity is not based on political or military power but on their covenant relationship with God. This separation is both physical and spiritual, as Israel is called to be holy and distinct in their worship and lifestyle. The phrase also points to the prophetic future where Israel's role among the nations will be fulfilled in God's redemptive plan. This distinctiveness is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to be in the world but not of it (<a href="/john/17-14.htm">John 17:14-16</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/b/balaam.htm">Balaam</a></b><br>A non-Israelite prophet hired by Balak to curse Israel. Instead, he delivers blessings as God commands.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/balak.htm">Balak</a></b><br>The king of Moab who fears the Israelites and seeks to curse them through Balaam.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, journeying to the Promised Land, distinct from other nations.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/moab.htm">Moab</a></b><br>The region where Balak rules, representing opposition to God's people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/mountains_and_hills.htm">Mountains and Hills</a></b><br>Symbolic of a vantage point from which Balaam sees the Israelites, representing divine perspective.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_perspective.htm">Divine Perspective</a></b><br>From a high vantage point, Balaam sees Israel as God sees them—set apart and unique. We are called to seek God's perspective in our lives, understanding our identity in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/separation_and_holiness.htm">Separation and Holiness</a></b><br>Israel's distinction from other nations is a call to holiness. As believers, we are to live lives that reflect our separation from worldly values and dedication to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite Balak's intentions, God's will prevails. This reminds us of God's ultimate control over our lives and His plans for His people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_in_christ.htm">Identity in Christ</a></b><br>Just as Israel was not reckoned among the nations, Christians are called to find their identity in Christ, not in worldly affiliations or status.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/b/blessing_and_purpose.htm">Blessing and Purpose</a></b><br>Israel's unique position was not just for their benefit but to be a blessing to the world. Similarly, our distinctiveness in Christ is meant to serve and bless others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_a_pagan_prophet's_blessing_credible.htm">Numbers 23:8–10: How credible is it that a pagan prophet blesses Israel despite a king’s demand to curse them, considering other biblical narratives? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/plague_deaths__24,000_or_23,000.htm">How many died in the plague after the Israelites' adultery with Moab's daughters: 24,000 (Numbers 25:1, 9) or 23,000 (I Corinthians 10:8)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_24,000_vs._23,000_deaths.htm">Numbers 25:9 vs. 1 Corinthians 10:8: How do we account for the numerical discrepancy of 24,000 versus 23,000 fatalities in the plague?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_a_nation_follow_a_cloud_smoothly.htm">Numbers 9:17-20: How could an entire nation coordinate travel solely based on a cloud's movement without creating significant logistical issues or leaving substantial archaeological traces?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(9) <span class= "bld">For from the top of</span> <span class= "bld">the rocks I see him . . . --</span>From the summit of the rocky mountain on which Balak had erected his seven altars, Balaam, according to one interpretation (see <a href="/numbers/22-41.htm" title="And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that there he might see the utmost part of the people.">Numbers 22:41</a>, and Note), had a full view of the outstretched camps of Israel.<p><span class= "bld">Lo, the people shall dwell alone . . . --</span>Better, <span class= "ital">Lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, and that is not numbered, &c. </span>In the fact that the host of Israel dwelt by itself in a separate encampment, Balaam discerned a type of the essential separation of Israel from the surrounding nations. When Israel adopted the ways of the heathen nations it speedily lost its external independence. Hengstenberg observes upon the last clause of this verse as follows:--"How truly Balaam said that Israel 'did not reckon itself with the heathen' appears from the fact that while all the powerful empires of the ancient world--the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and others--have utterly perished, Israel (which even under the Old Covenant was rescued from so many dangers that threatened its entire destruction, particularly in being brought back from exile) flourishes anew in the Church of the New Covenant, and continues also to exist in that part of it which, though at present rejected, is destined to restoration at a future period." (<span class= "ital">History of Balaam, </span>&c., p. 409.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The</span> <span class="cmt_word">people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned.</span> Rather, "It is a people that dwelleth apart, and is <span class="cmt_word">not</span> numbered." It was not the outward isolation on which his eye was fixed, for that indeed was only temporary and accidental, but the religious and moral separateness of Israel as the chosen people of God, which was the very secret of their national greatness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/23-9.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">For</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I see them</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’er·’en·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from atop</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵרֹ֤אשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·rōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the rocky cliffs,</span><br /><span class="heb">צֻרִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(ṣu·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6697.htm">Strong's 6697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and I watch them</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šū·ren·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7789.htm">Strong's 7789: </a> </span><span class="str2">To spy out, survey, lurk for, care for</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the hills.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mig·gə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1389.htm">Strong's 1389: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hillock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Behold,</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶן־</span> <span class="translit">(hen-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2005.htm">Strong's 2005: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a people</span><br /><span class="heb">עָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">dwelling</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(yiš·kōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7931.htm">Strong's 7931: </a> </span><span class="str2">To settle down, abide, dwell</span><br /><br /><span class="word">apart,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבָדָ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇā·ḏāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_910.htm">Strong's 910: </a> </span><span class="str2">Isolation, separation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[who] will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">reckon themselves</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiṯ·ḥaš·šāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2803.htm">Strong's 2803: </a> </span><span class="str2">To think, account</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among the nations.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇag·gō·w·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> </span><span class="str2">A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/23-9.htm">Numbers 23:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/23-9.htm">OT Law: Numbers 23:9 For from the top of the rocks (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/23-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 23:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 23:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/23-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 23:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 23:10" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>