1When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3He took up his parable, and said,
“Balaam the son of Beor says,
the man whose eyes are open says;
4he says, who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, and having his eyes open:
5How goodly are your tents, Jacob,
and your dwellings, Israel!
6As valleys they are spread out,
as gardens by the riverside,
as aloes which Yahweh has planted,
as cedar trees beside the waters.
7Water shall flow from his buckets.
His seed shall be in many waters.
His king shall be higher than Agag.
His kingdom shall be exalted.
8God brings him out of Egypt.
He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
He shall consume the nations his adversaries,
shall break their bones in pieces,
and pierce them with his arrows.
9He couched, he lay down as a lion,
as a lioness;
who shall rouse him up?
Everyone who blesses you is blessed.
Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
10Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Yahweh has kept you back from honor.”
12Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’? 14Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
15He took up his parable, and said,
“Balaam the son of Beor says,
the man whose eyes are open says;
16he says, who hears the words of God,
knows the knowledge of the Most High,
and who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, and having his eyes open:
17I see him, but not now.
I see him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob.
A scepter will rise out of Israel,
and shall strike through the corners of Moab,
and crush all the sons of Sheth.
18Edom shall be a possession.
Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession,
while Israel does valiantly.
19Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,
and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
20He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
but his latter end shall come to destruction.”
21He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,
“Your dwelling place is strong.
Your nest is set in the rock.
22Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,
until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23He took up his parable, and said,
“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.
They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.
He also shall come to destruction.”
25Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Ezek 27:29 "Ships" - Article on Seafaring in the ancient world
The history of shipping and maritime activity in the biblical world roughly divides into several eras: pre-flood, post-flood until approximately 3000 B.C., 3000 B.C. until approximately 1500 B.C., and approximately 1500 B.C. until the first century A.D.
Before the flood, the descendants of Adam and Eve likely utilized the four rivers (Gen 1:7; 2:10-14) flowing out of Eden (Gen 2:8) via anything that could float (cf. Tubal-cain, who originated early technological advances [Gen 4:22]). Although likely a floating repository, or barge, by far the largest ship (Gen 6:14-16) in the entire Bible (that could not be matched until modern times in tonnage) is Noah's ark (cf. Gen 6:19-21). Some estimate the tonnage of Noah's ark and the Queen Mary may have been comparable (cf. Gen 6:15; 7:23b).
In the post-flood ancient near east, river ways would have been utilized to explore and expand (cf. Gen 11:2), especially after the division of the nations after the Tower (or ziggurat) of Babel (Gen 10:32). The earliest evidence of shipping along the 750 miles of the Nile, dating from approximately 3000 B.C. forward, demonstrates reed-made, flat-bottomed, square-ended vessels, the likes of which may have transported the massive stones for pyramid construction. Vessels of reeds (cf. Job 9:26) developed into rounded-bottomed designs with pointed and raised bows and sterns. The Nile area was abundant with reeds for ship-building, and the Nile's current would allow travel north with relative ease, with prevailing southerly winds allowing travel by sail to the south. Larger vessels could be fitted with rowers, who could have driven north or south by oars.
The earliest evidence of Mesopotamian-based shipping includes a clay model of a bowl-like design, with a simple bow and stern, dating to approximately 3400 B.C. From 3000 B.C. onward, overseas trade with East Africa and even India transpired through the Persian Gulf regularly, on vessels ranging in various capacities, even up to 28 tons.
From approximately 1500 B.C. onward, Phoenician (2 Chr 9:21), Cypriot (called "Kittim" in Num 24:24), Cretan (called "Caphtor," and the origin of the "Philistines," then Achaean, or southern Greek, ship building expanded and developed, for maritime (cf. Jonah 1:3) and military purposes (cf. Dan 11:40). Ships in this era increased in size, with sail and oar propulsion, with Corinth building the first "triremes," ships with three decks of oarsmen, in approximately 700 B.C.
Solomon (1 Kgs 9:26) and Jehoshaphat (1 Kgs 22:48) built, with Phoenician (1 Kgs 5:12) help (1 Kgs 9:27; 10:11,22), actual trading fleets, Jehoshaphat's fleet being destroyed (2 Chr 20:36,37).
Acts 27 paints the fullest, most detailed depiction of shipping in the
biblical world of the first century, demonstrating a vessel capable of transporting 276 persons (27:31) with cargo (27:18,38), with multiple tackling (27:19), anchors (27:40), rudders (27:40), and sails (27:40).