Balak 24:18 · EXTRA 1 — Edom shall be a possession

Parashas Balak · EXTRA · Passuk 24:18 · Ramban / classical

The Complete Passuk

וְהָיָ֨ה אֱד֜וֹם יְרֵשָׁ֗ה וְהָיָ֧ה יְרֵשָׁ֛ה שֵׂעִ֖יר אֹיְבָ֑יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֹ֥שֶׂה חָֽיִל׃

And Edom shall be a possession, and Seir shall be a possession — his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Source Citation

Ramban on 24:18 — future conquest of Edom in the days of the kingdom.

Sefaria — Ramban on 24:18

Core Text of Chazal / classical

Core Text
וְהָיָה אֱדוֹם יְרֵשָׁה — בִּימֵי דָּוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיָּשֶׂם בֶּאֱדוֹם נְצִיבִים… וַיְהִי כָּל אֱדוֹם עֲבָדִים לְדָוִד״.

English: “And Edom shall be a possession” — in the days of David, as it is said, “And he put garrisons in Edom… and all Edom became servants to David.”

Type of Learning

Historical fulfillment reading of the prophecy.

What Is Learned

The star-and-scepter vision is not only messianic distance — part of it is already measured in David’s subjugation of Edom.