Numbers 24:24

And shippes shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shal afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and hee also shall perish for euer. Numbers 24:24 (KJV)

Numbers 24:24 is part of a prophetic message given by the prophet Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, but God intervened and turned Balaam’s intended curses into blessings. In this vision Balaam looks ahead to future events and to nations that will rise and fall.

Chittim refers to the island of Cyprus or, more broadly, the western Mediterranean islands. In biblical times those islands were known for maritime activity and trade, so the verse suggests the arrival of foreign ships from that region.

Asshur denotes the Assyrian empire, a dominant and militarily powerful nation during the period. The prophecy states that the ships will afflict Asshur, indicating that these foreign forces would bring trouble or distress to the Assyrian power.

Eber is a reference to the descendants of Eber, a broader group that includes the Hebrews/Israelites. The ships are likewise said to afflict Eber, implying that the same foreign influence would affect the people descended from Eber.

The clause “he also shall perish for ever” is ambiguous. Some readers understand the pronoun to refer to Asshur, while others note that the text does not make the identity explicit. The uncertainty has led to varied scholarly interpretations.

One interpretive note found in the drafts mentions that the ships “shall do great things,” suggesting that the maritime forces would have a significant impact on the nations involved. As with many prophetic passages, the exact historical fulfillment is debated, and the verse invites careful study of the broader biblical context and related scriptures to gain deeper insight into its meaning.