Numbers 24:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Balaam foretold the coming of Christ, declaring that a star will emerge from Jacob and a scepter will arise from Israel, for the Spirit of God was upon the discerning man.

Moses, revered for his greatness and recognized as authentic, affirmed the truths articulated by others regarding the incarnation of the Savior in his writings.

A radiant star will emerge from Jacob. This represents Zerubbabel, the deliverer of the Jewish people and a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Redeemer for all nations. From Israel, a ruler will be established, and this ruler is Zerubbabel. Upon his return from exile, he will vanquish the giants of Moab and conquer all the descendants of Seth, signifying the nations surrounding Judah.

The wise men arrived bearing treasures as gifts. Do you seek to understand the significance of their actions? They beheld the star, which was obscured from Herod’s sight; yet it reappeared to guide them to Christ. Thus, the star symbolizes the path, and that path is Christ (see Jn. 14:6), for within the mystery of the Incarnation, Christ embodies the star: a star shall emerge from Jacob, and a man shall arise from Israel (Num. 24:17). Wherever Christ is present, the star shines: for He is the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16). His radiance directs attention to Himself.

It is important to recognize that some individuals have claimed that Balaam did not prophesy concerning our Savior. However, it is essential to acknowledge that even the exceedingly wicked Nebuchadnezzar received a revelation about our God and Savior. He witnessed a stone that “was torn away ... without hands, struck the body..., crushed gold, silver, copper, iron, scudel, and there was a great mountain, and covered the whole earth” (Dan. 2:34-35). Thus, the One who revealed these truths through Nebuchadnezzar and Balaam foretold the salvation of the entire creation, ensuring that such prophecies would also be recognized among the Gentiles. The reality of this prophecy is confirmed by its actual occurrence.

Through this, He clearly asserts that His work regarding the incarnation must occur among the Jewish people. This individual, who descended from heaven, was born into the lineage of Jacob and Judah and assumed the role of intercessor. A star appeared in the sky, indicating the arrival of the leader who reigns as king over all the redeemed. Upon His birth, a star guided the wise men from the east, revealing to them that Christ had come into the world. They journeyed into Judea, following the star, until it shone over Bethlehem, where the Savior was born. The star illuminated the house where the child lay wrapped in swaddling clothes, becoming a sign to the wise men of the Son of God, the Christ (cf. Matt. 2:1-9).

Isaiah, another prophet, articulated a similar message in different terms, declaring: ‘A star shall shine forth from Jacob, and a flower shall spring up from the root of Jesse, and in his hand shall the nations trust.’ The luminous star that emerged and the blossom that arose from Jesse's root is none other than Christ. Through the divine power of God, He was born of a virgin, coming from the lineage of Jacob, the ancestor of Judah, who, as noted previously, was a patriarch of the Jewish people. Jesse, as the prophet indicated, was His ancestor, and He is a descendant of Jacob and Judah in accordance with the lineages established in scripture.

This divine gift was ordained so that the coming of the Savior would be revealed to all nations, and the Magi, inspired by the ancient prophecies of Balaam, recognized the significance of the miraculous star. They were aware of the prophecy that declares, "A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall crush the corners of Moab." Guided by the divine light of an extraordinary star, these three wise men journeyed on, anticipating that they would encounter the announced child in Jerusalem, the illustrious city. However, when their search did not yield the expected results, they sought knowledge from the Jewish scribes and learned what the Scriptures foretold about the holy birth of Christ. Empowered by these two confirmations, they hurried with passionate faith toward the One whom both the radiant star and the prophets affirmed.

If Moses included the prophecies of Balaam in the sacred scriptures, how much more significant is it that those in Mesopotamia at that time documented them, where Balaam gained renown and where his legacy undoubtedly continued? From him descends the lineage of the Magi, and this wisdom has been safeguarded in the eastern regions. They meticulously recorded all of Balaam's forecasts, including the prophecy that a star would emerge from Jacob and a ruler would arise from Israel. The wise men possessed these writings, which enabled them to recognize the star upon the birth of Jesus Christ and to understand that the prophecy had come to fruition—more swiftly than the people of Israel, who often overlooked the words of the holy prophets. These wise men, aware of all that Balaam had documented, recognized that the designated time had arrived. They sought Him, worshiped Him immediately, and displayed such profound faith that they honored the child as a king.

Truly, Balaam revealed to us the significance of his prophetic words, declaring that a star would emerge to eclipse the illumination of all forms of divination and prophecy. This star would illuminate the mysteries of the sages, their teachings, and enigmas; it shines far more brilliantly than any earthly star, as if it were the very Creator of all celestial bodies. Concerning this star, it was foretold that a new and everlasting God would arise from Jacob.

Balaam, despite being outside the community of faith, prophesied about our Lord Jesus Christ, stating, "A star rises from Jacob, and a Man rises from Israel." The perspective of adversaries often holds remarkable truth. The title of "star" ascribed to Jesus Christ reflects His divine nature; akin to a star that embodies fire, which destroys both objects and the sinful nature, so does His divinity cleanse the sins of believers. When Balaam proclaimed, "a Man shall arise from Israel," he affirmed that Christ is fully divine by His essence while also being fully human by His will, mercy, and profound humanity.

Due to this prophecy, the followers of Balaam—who had clearly kept this prophecy alive—were prompted to journey when they noticed that a unique visitor had emerged in the heavens, positioned, one might say, at the pinnacle and directly above Judea. They made the effort to travel to the region of Palestine in response to the news of the king indicated by the star that had appeared.

Moses states in the Book of Numbers that a star will emerge from Jacob and a leader will come forth from Israel. Therefore, although He is divine, He took on human form so that, serving as a mediator between God and humanity, He could guide humanity back to God through His teachings, ultimately triumphing over death.

When God inspired Balaam, the sage, to speak prophecies about His only begotten Son, he predicted, among other things, the appearance of a star at the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ: “a star shall shine,” he declared, “from Jacob, and a man shall arise from Israel.”

Balaam begins to illustrate the advent of the Messiah in humanity and His authority over the world with striking imagery. The prophet declares, "I see Him, but not yet; I perceive Him, but He is not close." A star will arise from Jacob, and a scepter will come forth from Israel. The imagery of the star and the scepter regularly appears in Scripture in reference to the Messiah (Matt. 2:2; Rev. 22:16; Is. 11:1; Ps. 2:9). Significantly, at the Savior's birth, the star that shone in the east guided the Magi from Persia to Him. "He shall strike down the rulers of Moab and shatter all the descendants of Seth!" These statements had an immediate impact on David, the earthly ancestor of the Messiah, who was transformed by them (2 Sam. 8:2).

The powerful king who triumphs over the nations, as foretold in verse 7, is the same one we are discussing. Clearly, the Star from Jacob signifies a man from Israel. This individual, to come from the lineage of Israel and to achieve victory over Moab and other nations, is characterized as a star due to the magnificence and glory of his appearance and actions. These qualities can be partially associated with the kings of Israel, particularly David. For instance, David defeated the Moabites, executing two-thirds of them while sparing the last third, who were made tribute-slaves (2 Sam. 8:2). Similarly, the Edomites, descendants of Esau—Jacob's elder brother and Israel's original foes—also faced a fate as foretold.