Numbers 23:22

“God brought them out of Egypt, etc.] With a mighty hand and stretched out arm, and he will conduct them through the wilderness, and bring them safe to Canaan’s land; he that brought them from thence will not suffer them to perish by any means; it is in vain to attempt to curse a people that is in such hands, and for whom he has done such great things: Jarchi thinks this stands opposed to what Balak had said, (<042205>Numbers 22:5), thou sayest, “lo, a people is come out of Egypt”; “they did not come out of themselves, but God brought them:” he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn; that is, not God, but the people he brought out of Egypt, being a mighty people, able to push their…”

“he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn--Israel is not as they were at the Exodus, a horde of poor, feeble, spiritless people, but powerful and invincible as a reem--that is, a rhinoceros (Job 39:9; Psa 22:21; Psa 92:10).”

“An unicorn - A wild bull, the now extinct Aurochs, formidable for its size, strength, speed, and ferocity. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Out of Egypt - Namely, by a strong hand, and in spite of all their enemies, and therefore it is in vain to seek or hope to overcome them. He - Israel, whom God brought out of Egypt, such change of numbers being very common in the Hebrew language. The sense is, Israel is not now what he was in Egypt, a poor, weak, dispirited, unarmed people, but high and strong and invincible. An unicorn - The word may mean either a rhinoceros, or a strong and fierce kind of wild goat. But such a creature as an unicorn, as commonly painted, has no existence in nature. Numbers 23:23”

“God: Num 22:5, Num 24:8; Exo 9:16, Exo 14:18, Exo 20:2; Psa 68:35 the strength: Deu 33:17; Job 39:10, Job 39:11; Psa 22:21 unicorn: The reaim, most probably denotes the rhinoceros, so called from the horn on its nose. In size he is only exceeded by the elephant; and in strength and power inferior to none. He is at least twelve feet in length, from the snout to the tail; six or seven feet in height; and the circumference of the body is nearly equal to his length. He is particularly distinguished from all other animals by the remarkable and offensive weapon he carries on his nose; which is very hard horn, solid throughout, directed forward. He principally feeds upon large succulent plants,…”