Texts in Conversation
Numbers 24 speaks of a star and scepter rising from Israel and defeating Moab. The Greek Septuagint changes the star to a future leader from Israel, showing that the translators were likely following a messianic interpretation.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Numbers 24:17
Hebrew Bible
15 Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are open, 16 the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 17 ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth. 18 Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemy, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly. 19 A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.’”
Date: 750–400 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
LXX Numbers 24:17
Septuagint
15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, the man who sees truly says, 16 hearing the oracles of God, receiving knowledge from the Most High, and having seen a vision of God in sleep; his eyes were opened. 17 I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he does not draw near: a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall crush the princes of Moab, and shall plunder all the sons of Seth. 18 And Edom shall be an inheritance, and Esau his enemy shall be an inheritance of Israel, and Israel did valiantly. 19 And one shall arise out of Jacob, and destroy out of the city him that escapes.
Date: 300–201 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Numbers 24:17 probably communicates that the star or the scepter will break the temples of Moab and crush all the sons of Seth. Scholars debate the connotation of the phrase, “sons of Seth.” It could refer to descendants of Adam’s son, Seth. Alternatively, it might symbolize all nations. There is insufficient evidence to indubitably establish their identity ... Unlike the Masoretic text, the LXX of Numbers 24:17 interprets the star that will rise from Jacob as a man who will arise from Israel. This man will break Moab’s rulers. He will additionally plunder all the sons of Seth ..."
Christopher Winchester, “Thematic Association in the Gospel of Matthew: Situating Exegesis in the Gospel of Matthew in Its Second Temple Context” (PhD diss., University of Edinburgh, 2017), 114.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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