“He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”
'He crouched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you' — the lion imagery repeats, adding the dimension of rest and power. The lion is at ease, yet invincible; none dare rouse it. The oracle concludes with a statement of principle: those who bless Israel are blessed; those who curse Israel are cursed. The principle is cosmic; it applies to all peoples and all times. Balaam, in pronouncing this blessing, invokes his own blessing and protection; he has blessed Israel and thereby blessed himself.
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