The Torah describes a false prophet named Balaam as actually seeing the divine Angel of YHWH and being inspired by the Holy Spirit to utter prophecies, which point to the coming Davidic King at a time when Israel had no king!
“But God was angry because he was going, so the angel of Yahweh took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him. Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; so Balaam struck the donkey to turn it back into the way. Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and it pressed itself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck it again. And the angel of Yahweh passed on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ Then Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.’ And the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?’ And he said, ‘No.’ Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head down and prostrated himself to the ground. And the angel of Yahweh said to him, ‘Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary because your way was contrary to me. And the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If it had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let it live.’ And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.’ But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.’ So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.” Numbers 22:22-35 Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)
“Then Yahweh met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, ‘Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.’ So he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, ‘What has Yahweh spoken?’ Then he took up his discourse and said, ‘Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor! God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not establish it? Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it. He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; Yahweh his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done! Behold, a people rises like a lioness, And as a lion it lifts itself; It will not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain.’ Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Do not curse them at all nor bless them at all!’ But Balaam replied to Balak, ‘Did I not tell you, saying, “Whatever Yahweh speaks, that I must do”?’” Numbers 23:16-26 LSB
“And Balaam saw that it was good in the eyes of Yahweh to bless Israel, so he did not go as at other times to encounter omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. Then he took up his discourse and said, ‘The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered; The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who beholds the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes opened, How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by Yahweh, Like cedars beside the waters. Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will gnaw their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.’” Numbers 24:1-4 LSB
“Then he took up his discourse and said, ‘The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is uncovered, The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who beholds the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes opened. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. And one from Jacob shall have dominion, And will make the survivor perish from the city.’” Numbers 24:15-19 LSB
What this shows is that God can even use false prophets and/or teachers to proclaim his truth, much like he moved the high priest Caiaphas, the man who condemned Jesus to death, to unwittingly prophesy that Christ would die for the salvation of mankind:
“Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sanhedrin together, and were saying, ‘What are we doing? For this man is doing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’ Now he did not say this from himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.” John 11:47-53 LSB
Remarkably, ancient Jewish traditions took these oracles from Balaam as foretelling the rise of the Messianic kingdom, being prophesies of the coming Messiah.
For instance, here’s how the Aramaic paraphrases called the Targumim interpret Balaam’s oracles:
The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee, by J. W. Etheridge, M.A., First Published 1862. All emphasis will be mine.
Arise, Balak, and hear; listen to my words, Bar Zippor. The Word of the living God is not as the words of men for the Lord, the Ruler of all worlds, is the unchangeable (but) man speaketh and denieth. Neither are His works like the works of the children of flesh, who consult, and then repent them of what they had decreed. But when the Lord of all worlds hath said, I will multiply this people as the stars of the heavens, and will give them to possess the land of the Kenaanites, is He not able to perform what He hath spoken? and what He hath said, can He not confirm it? Behold, from the mouth of the Holy Word I have received the benediction, and their appointed benediction I cannot restrain from them. [JERUSALEAL 15. And I with My Word will honour thee. Not as the word of the sons of men is the or of the living God, nor are the works of God as the works of men. Men say, and do not; they decree, but do not confirm; but God saith and performeth, He maketh decree and confirmeth it, and His decrees are established forever. Behold, I have received to bless Israel, and I cannot restrain the blessings from them.]
Bileam the wicked said, I see not among them of the house of Jakob such as worship idols: they who serve false idols are not established among the tribes of the sons of Israel. The Word of the Lord their God is their help, and the trumpets of the King Meshiha resound among them: Unto Eloha, who redeemed and led them out of Mizraim free, belong power and exaltation, glorification and greatness. They of the house of Jakob who use divination are not establisbed, nor the enchanters, who enchant among the greatness (multitudes) of Israel. At this time it is said to the house of Jakob and Israel, How glorious are the miracles and wonder‑works which God hath wrought! This people reposeth alone, and dwelleth strong as a lion, and reareth himself as an old lion. They sleep not till with great slaughter they have slain their adversaries, and taken the spoils of the slain. [JERUSALEM. I have not seen the worshippers of a lie, nor those who offer strange service, among the tribes of the sons of Israel. The Word of the Lord is with them, and the trumpet of their glorious King protecteth them. Unto God who redeemed, and brought them out from Mizraim free, belong power, and praise, and exaltation. For I see not those who perform divination in the house of Jakob, nor them who enchant with enebantments among the tribes of Israel. At this time it is said to Jakob, What bounties and comforts are prepared of the Lord to bestow upon you of the house of Jakob! Then said he in the parable of his prophecy, O happy saints, how goodly is the reward prepared for you by your Father in heaven, in the world to come! Behold, these people dwell as a lion, like the strong lion; as the lion resteth not, nor is quiet, until he hath taken and eaten flesh and drunk up blood, so this people will rest not, nor be in quiet, till they have slain their enemies, and have shed the blood of their slaughtered foes like water.]…
How goodly were the tabernacles in which Jakob their father did pray; and the tabernacle of ordinance which you have made to My name, and your own tabernacles, O house of Israel! As torrents that prevail, so shall Israel overpower their adversaries; and as gardens planted by fountains of water, so shall be their cities, giving forth scribes and teachers of the law; and as the heavens which the Memra of the Lord spread forth for the dwelling of His Shekinah, so shall Israel live, and endure unto eternity, beautiful and renowned as cedars by the waters which grow up oil high. Their King will arise from among their children, and their Redeemer will be of them and among them; and He will gather their captives from the cities of their adversaries, and their children shall have rule among the peoples. And the kingdom of the King Meshiha shall be made great: stronger is He than Shaul who vanquished Agag the kill of the Amalkaab…
And Balak’s anger grew strong against Bileam, and Balak smote his hands, and said to Bileam, I brought thee to curse my enemies, and thou hast only blessed.] And now flee to thy place. I had said that honouring I would honour thee; but, behold, the Lord hath kept back Bileam from honour. But Bileam said to Balak, Did I not tell thy messengers whom thou. sentest to me, saying, If Balak would give me the fulness of his treasures of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord to do good or evil of my own will: what the Lord saith shall I not speak…
I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but it is not near. When the mighty King of Jakob’s house shall reign, and the Meshiha, the Power‑sceptre of Israel, be anointed, He will slay the princes of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing all the children of Sheth, the armies of Gog who will do battle against Israel and all their carcases shall fall before Him. And the Edomaee will be utterly driven out, even the sons of Gabela from before Israel their foes, and Israel will be strengthened with their riches and possess them. And a prince of the house of Jakob will arise and destroy and consume the remnant that have escaped from Constantina the guilty city, and will lay waste and ruin the rebellious city, even Kaiserin the strong city of the Gentiles.
And he looked on the house of Amalek, and took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: The first of the nations who made war with the house of Israel were those of the house of Amalek; and they at last, in the days of the King Meshiha, with all the children of the east, will make war against Israel; but all of them together will have eternal destruction in their end…
[JERUSALEM. And now, behold, I go to my people. Come now, I will counsel thee how thou art to act with this people. Lead them into sin; for else thou canst have power against them to prevail over thy people at the end of the days. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said:
Bileam the son of Beor saith; the man who is more honourable than his father saith, for what hath been hid from all the prophets is revealed unto me: the man speaketh who heard the Word from before the Lord, and learned knowledge from the Most High; who saw the vision in the presence of the Almighty, seeking prostrate on his face, when the visions of prophecy were disclosed to him, and he was made to foreknow of himself that he will fall by the sword, but that his prophecy will be confirmed.
I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but He is not nigh. A King is to arise from the house of Jakob, and a Redeemer and Ruler from the house of Israel, who will slay the strong ones of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing and consume all the children of the east. And Edom may inherit Mount Gabela from their enemies but Israel will be stronger with a mighty host. A King will arise from the house of Jakob, and destroy what shall remain of the strong city. And he beheld the Amalkaah, and took up the parable of his prophecy and said: The house of Amalek was the first of the peoples to make war with Israel, and at last in the end of the days they will array battle against them; but their end is to perish, and their destruction to be for ever. And when he looked upon the Shalmaia, taking up the parable of his prophecy, he said, How strong is thy abode, who hast set the house of thy dwelling in the clefts of the rock! But the Shalmaia will not be spoiled, until Athuria shall arise, and take thee captive.]
And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said, Woe to them who are alive at the time when the Word of the Lord shall be revealed, to give the good reward to the righteous, and to take vengeance on the wicked, to smite the nations and the kings, and bring these things upon them! And ships (lit., sails) armed for war will come forth with urreat armies from Lombarnia, and from the land of Italia,[4] conjoined with the legions that will come forth from Constantina, and will afflict the Athuraee, and bring into captivity all the sons of Eber;[5] nevertheless the end of these and of those is to fall by the hand of the King Meshiha, and be brought to everlasting destruction: [JERUSALEM. Woe to him who is alive when the Word of the Lord setteth Himself to give the good reward to the just, and to take vengeance on the wicked! And great hosts in Livernia will come from the great city, and will conjoin with them many legions of the Romaee, and subjugate Athuria, and afflict all the children beyond the river. Nevertheless the end of these and of those is to perish, and the destruction to be everlasting. And Bileam rose up and went to return to his place; and Balak also.] (Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, 22-25)
And the Word from before the Lord met Bileam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus speak. And he came to him, and he was standing by his burnt offering, and the nobles of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, What hath the Lord spoken? And he took up his parable, and said:
Arise, Balak, and hear,
Listen to my words, Bar Zippor:
The word of Eloha is not as the words of men;
The sons of men speak, but lie;
Nor is it as the works of the children of flesh,
Who decree to do, but repent, and change their counsels.
What He hath said He will perform,
And His every word is steadfast.
Behold, I have received benedictions to bless Israel,
And I may not turn my blessing from him.
I have seen that in the house of Jakob
The worshippers of idols are not,
Nor in Israel the workers of the work of lies.
The Word of the Lord their God is their helper,
And the Shekinah of their King is among them.
God, who brought them out from Mizraim,
Becomes his strength and exaltation…
Bileam, the son of Beor, speaketh,
The man who saw the Beautiful speaketh,
He speaks who heard the Word from before God,
And who knoweth knowledge from the Most High,
Who saw the vision of the Almighty, prostrate when he saw.
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh.
When a king shall arise out of Jakob,
And the Meshiha be anointed from Israel,
He will slay the princes of Moab, and reign over all
the children of men;
And Edom shall be an inheritance,
And Seir a possession of his adversaries;
But Israel shall prosper in riches.
One will descend from the house of Jakob,
Who will destroy him that escapeth from the city of the peoples. (Targum Onkelos, 22-25)
THE KING HAS COME!
The NT depicts Jesus as being the fulfillment of these oracles.
For instance, the oracle presents Israel’s King as a star and scepter whom God will bring out from Egypt:
“Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be lifted up higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will gnaw their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you… I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.” Numbers 24:7-9, 17 LSB
Amazingly, shortly after Jesus was born in Bethlehem wise men from the east (magi) saw a star which they took to be an omen heralding the birth of Israel’s King. Jesus was then taken into Egypt in order to be kept safe from Herod’s attempt of murdering him:
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ And when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Leader Who will shepherd My people Israel.”’ Then Herod secretly called the magi and carefully determined from them the time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ Now after hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, was going on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi departed for their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’ So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and departed for Egypt. And he remained there until the death of Herod, in order that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’” Matthew 2:1-15 LSB
Jesus is further depicted as the God who reigns forever with a righteous scepter, and who appears as the Lion from the tribe of Judah:
“But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.’” LSB
“And one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” Revelation 5:5 LSB
It is, therefore, quite certain that as far as the Christian writings are concerned Jesus is the Davidic Ruler who came into the world to fulfill all that the prophets wrote in respect to the coming Messianic King (Cf. Luke 1:26-33, 67-79; 2:10-11; 24:25-27, 44-47; Acts 2:14-36; 3:19-26; 4:23-31; 10:43; 13:22-23, 27-37; Romans 1:2-4; 3:21; 16:25-26; Revelation 12:4-5, 10; 11:5).
FURTHER READING
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES SERIES PT. 1
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES SERIES PT. 2
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES PT. 3: THE TIME OF MESSIAH’S APPEARANCE
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES PT. 4: SHILOH HAS COME
MORE ON DANIEL’S MESSIANIC TIMELINE
MESSIANIC TIMELINE OF DANIEL REVISITED AGAIN
ZECHARIAH 6:9-15: THE MESSIANIC PRIESTLY-KING
Are the “Messianic Prophecies” in the Past Tense, So Not About a Future Messiah at All?
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES HIDDEN FROM SATAN
Messianic Prophecy in light Muhammadan Polemics
Messianic Prophecy and the Quran: Another Muhammadan Dilemma
Answering Islam Blog 