Chapter 24
This third time, after the offerings, Balaam doesn't even bother to go forward and see what God says, but the Spirit of God comes upon him and he speaks a third time. It starts like this:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! 6 Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. [Num 24:5-6 ESV]
Balak is really upset now and tells Balaam to go home.
2022 - In fact, Balak refuses to pay Balaam for his services. This verse:
"11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, 'I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."" [Num 24:11 ESV]. Balak keeps none of his promises to Balaam, and Balaam in turn claims to have done exactly what he promised Balak he would do. That is, he would say only what God told him to say, NOT what Balak told him to say. Perhaps Balaam is angered by the refusal to pay, and that is why he gives this one last oracle, which was not preceded by the 7 altars, 7 bulls, and 7 rams:
But Balaam has one more oracle to speak, this one couched as:
14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days." [Num 24:14 ESV]
Latter days....
Better to just put it all here:
17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. 19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!" 20 Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction." 21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. 22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive." 23 And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this? 24 But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction." [Num 24:17-24 ESV]
There are a lot of prophecies here. I don't know if they are about the near term, as Israel conquers Canaan, about the time of David when surrounding countries were defeated, or about Jesus return with his army when he sets up his earthly 1000 year kingdom in Jerusalem.
2022 - Vs 17 is surely about the second coming. He is the scepter rising out of Israel.
Balaam was a diviner for hire. He somehow was able to communicate with God, and possibly the only reason for all that, and the reason Balaam was able to make a living as a diviner, was so that Balaam could bless Israel as he does in these two chapters. But make no mistake. Balaam was not a God-fearing man, he was no prophet of God. Even after these blessings he conspired with Moab and others to undermine Israel and he was a principal in many plans to destroy Israel. In my opinion, Balaam will not be in heaven. I don't think he will even be in the less intense parts of hell. Too many references say that Balaam was a full on enemy of Israel, even after this.