Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. (Numbers 23:24)
The adjective “great” is not in the Hebrew. The noun may also mean “lioness,” as well as “lion.” As in other Semitic languages and in Eastern religious books, in the OT the qualities of animals are commonly attributed to human beings (Gen. 49:9, 27; Num. 24:8, 9; Deut. 33:20; Jer. 49:19; Micah 5:8).
A young lion.
In his strength rising up from his covert to take his prey.
Eat of the prey.
A picture of past and future Israelite conquests. In the war against the Midianites, soon after Balaam’s visit with Balak, not an Israelite lost his life (ch. 31:49).