Numbers 24:18
“Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.”
What does Numbers 24:18 mean?
This verse comes near the end of Balaam's prophecies, where he's describing what he foresees for the nations around Israel. He's saying that Edom (and its mountainous region, Seir) will eventually fall under Israel's control, while Israel itself will grow strong and courageous. It's a prediction of Israel's future military success and expansion, painted in the confident language of someone who believes God is at work in history. For people in that community hearing these words, it would have offered hope that their struggles weren't pointless, that God had a plan for their strength and security ahead.