Balak’s vexation was now increased tenfold. Smiting his hands together he upbraided the Prophet for his deceit, and in place of advancing him, as he had intended, to high honour, bade him flee for his life to his native land. Nor was the other loath to go. But before he went, for he felt himself still moved by the prophetic spirit, he would _advertise_ the king of what this mysterious people _would do to his people in the latter days_ (Num. xxiv. 14). Again, therefore, he took up his parable, _and saw, but not now,――he beheld but not nigh, a Star_, bright as any that spangled the Eastern sky, _coming out of Jacob, and a sceptre rising out of Israel, smiting through the princes of Moab[133], and destroying_ all their wild warriors _the sons of tumult_[134]. One by one he saw “the giant forms of empires on their way to ruin;” Edom and Seir becoming a possession for their enemies; Amalek, then _the first of the nations, in his latter end perishing for ever_; the Kenites, then _strong in their dwelling-place, and putting their nest in the_ neighbouring _rocks_ of En-gedi _wasted and made a prey_; nay even Israel _carried away captive by Asshur_. And yet once more he saw woe in store even for Asshur, even for his own native land. Far in the distant future he saw _ships_ coming _from Chittim_, the island of Cyprus, _to afflict Asshur and to afflict Eber_, till the proud kingdoms of the Eastern world, and he who should _afflict_ them _perished for ever_[135]. And then the Vision closed. The “true Prophetic light died away,” and the king of Moab, baffled and disappointed, returned to his people. CHAPTER IV. _WAR WITH THE MIDIANITES――DEATH OF MOSES._ NUMB. XXV.–XXXII. DEUT. XXXII. B.C. 1451.