“As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.”
'Like palm groves that stretch far, like gardens beside a river, like aloe trees that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters' — Balaam employs verdant, fertile imagery to describe Israel. Palm groves, gardens, aloe, cedar—all suggest abundance, life, and beauty. The comparison to plants 'that the LORD has planted' (asher nata YHWH) emphasizes that Israel's flourishing is God's work. The waters suggest life-giving abundance; Israel dwelling beside water is Israel blessed with divine provision.
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