Numbers 24:5
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
What it says
Balaam exclaims over the loveliness of Israel’s tents and dwellings. The nation appears ordered, peaceful, and beautiful before him.
What it is doing
It begins the blessing with a direct vision of Israel’s beauty.
In context
1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3and he lifted up an oracle, saying: 4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, 5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, 6They spread out like palm groves, 7Water will flow from his buckets, 8God brought him out of Egypt 9He crouches, he lies down like a lion,