Numbers 12:12

12:12 Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half-consumed when it comes out of its 1  mother’s womb!”

Numbers 24:3

24:3 Then he uttered this oracle: 2 

“The oracle 3  of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; 4 

Numbers 24:15

Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time

24:15 Then he uttered this oracle: 5 

“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;

the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;

1 tc The words “its mother” and “its flesh” are among the so-called tiqqune sopherim, or “emendations of the scribes.” According to this tradition the text originally had here “our mother” and “our flesh,” but the ancient scribes changed these pronouns from the first person to the third person. Apparently they were concerned that the image of Moses’ mother giving birth to a baby with physical defects of the sort described here was somehow inappropriate, given the stature and importance of Moses.

2 tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”

3 tn The word נְאֻם (nÿ’um) is an “oracle.” It is usually followed by a subjective genitive, indicating the doer of the action. The word could be rendered “says,” but this translations is more specific.

4 tn The Greek version reads “the one who sees truly.” The word has been interpreted in both ways, “shut” or “open.”

5 tn Heb “and he took up his oracle and said.”