Numbers 23:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does it signify when we say, "as the glory of the unicorn is in him" (Num. 23:22)? The unicorn is a creature known for having a single horn on its head. The Lord God also asked Job regarding this creature: "Will the unicorn work for you?" (Job 39:9). Through this, He illustrated the strength and untamable nature of the beast. Some have drawn parallels between the Lord God and the unicorn. However, I believe this refers to the people of God. Just as the unicorn possesses one horn, so too do the righteous worship one true God. This is why the blessed David states, "On you our enemies we will cast out our horns" (Ps. 43:6). We have often discussed what it means to understand the oneness of God.

When the Lord guided His people from Egypt, He endowed them with the swiftness of a unicorn to chase after their foes. The liberation from Egyptian slavery symbolizes freedom from the oppressive influence of the enemy, and the unicorn’s swiftness in triumphing over its adversaries represents the divine grace through which Christ's faithful followers have vanquished all opposing forces and eradicated paganism, which rallied its philosophers and magicians in a futile battle against the gospel.