“... Examination of the substance of Balaam’s three oracles shows that Philo is familiar with traditions of Jewish exegesis preserved in the Aramaic Targums. Here we can discuss only a selection of those germane to the task in hand. Thus in the first oracle Balaam declares of Israel: Behold, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. (Num. 23:9) Philo recasts this as follows to speak of . . . a people which shall dwell on its own, not numbered with other nations—not because they dwell at random, nor because of the segregation of their lands (from those of others), but because of the distinctive character of their special customs—not being mixed with others so as to change the customs of their forefathers. (Vit. Mos. I. 278) This owes little to LXX, who remained close to the original Hebrew; but it recalls FTP and FTV (cf. also TN): Behold, these people encamp on their own, and do not mix themselves with the laws [...] of the nations. ...”

“... 9. Lo, a people dwelling alone, not reckoned among the nations. Targum Onkelos expands this verse into the hope that Israel, though oppressed, will eventually possess the world, and never be condemned to destruction by the nations. There is no mention of Israel's destruction in the Palestinian Targums, but of her protection against the infiltration of pagan customs, a major preoccupation of both Palestine and the Diaspora. They shall not bind themselves to the laws [...] of the nations. 2TJ. They shall not be guided by the laws of the nations. 1TJ. PHILO gives a similar interpretation: But I shall not be able to harm the people, which shall dwell alone, not reckoned among other nations; and that, not because their dwelling place is set apart and their land severed from others, but because in virtue of the distinction of their peculiar customs they do not mix with others to depart from the ways of their fathers. VM, l. § 278. ...”