Rabbi Joel C. Dobin , The Astrological Secrets of the Hebrew Sages, , [1977], 139-140, In the new translation, called Torah and published by the Jewish Publication Society, the verse is translated as follows:
What I see for them is not yet, What I behold will not be soon; A star rises from Jacob, a meteor comes forth from Israel, It smashes the brow of Moab, The foundation of all children of Seth.
This makes much better sense than the old translation because it also makes much better astrological sense. Indeed, linguistically, we ought to look for some heavenly body in the phrase to parallel "star", and "sceptre" is neither an astronomical nor an astrological parallel. The Hebrew wordt SBT does have the meaning of "sceptre" or "staff", but also means "tribe" as well as "meteor". But in this context, "meteor" is the only linguistic solution available. However, it is also an astrological solution, giving added meaning and greater impact to the message of Balaam. For the meteor has always been the astrological symbol of changes in national status, of forced changes in governments; all king were fearful of them. To say a meteor will arise from Israel which will destroy the foundations of nations and defeat Moab and Seth presents a picture that is easily understood, and that with high drama terrorizes its readers, who all astrologically, understand the impact of the meteor and fear its appearance. Indeed, the meaning "sceptre, staff, tribe", may be derivative of the word's original meaning "a meteor that appears or the fall of leadership and of governments".