Numbers 6:25

22-27 The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the name of the Lord. To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. In so rich a list of mercies worldly joys are not worthy to be mentioned. Here is a form of prayer. The name Jehovah is three times repeated. The Jews think there is some mystery; and we know what it is, the New Testament having explained it. There we are directed to expect the blessing from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, 2 Corinthians 13:14; each of which Persons is Jehovah, and yet they ar...

The priestly blessing (compare Ecclus. 36:17) is appointed as a solemn form to be used by the priests exclusively, and in this function their office as it were culminates (compare Leviticus 9:22 note). God Himself provides a formula, through which from time to time, as His people by obedience place themselves in true and right relationship to Him, the authorised mediators may pronounce and communicate His special blessing to them. It was a Jewish tradition that this blessing was given at the close of the daily sacrifice. The structure of the blessing is remarkable. It is rhythmical, consists of three distinct parts, and mounts by gradual stages to that peace which forms the last and most consummate gift which God can give His people. From a Christian point of view, and comparing the counterpart

EXPOSITION THE PRIESTLY BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:22-4). NUMBERS 6:22 THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. It is a matter of mere conjecture at what point of time this command was given. As it concerned the priests and their daily ministration, it would be natural to suppose that it was given at the time when the tabernacle service was set up, _i.e; _at the precise point fixed by the first verse of the following chapter. That the command was given to Moses, and to Moses alone, and that _after _the consecration of Aaron to the high priesthood, serves to bring out into clear relief the relative position of the two. Aaron and his sons alone, as the

THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON THEE,.... Cause himself, the sun of righteousness, to arise and shine upon them, and give both spiritual light and heat unto them; grant his gracious presence, the manifestations of himself, communion with him, clearer discoveries of his love, of interest in him, and an increase of spiritual light and knowledge of his Gospel, and the truths of it, and of his mind and will: AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE; by granting larger measures of grace out of his fulness, by leading more abundantly into it, and making fresh and frequent applications of it; grace is often wished for from Christ as well as from the Father....

CHAPTER 6 The Nazarite _ 1. The vow of a Nazarite (Numbers 6:1)_ 2. The defilement of the Nazarite (Numbers 6:9) 3. The law of the Nazarite (Numbers 6:15) 4. The blessing of Aaron and his sons (Numbers 6:22) The word Nazarite means, one who is separated. The vow of the Nazarite meant separation unto Jehovah and separation in three things: 1. Separation from wine and strong drink, vinegar of wine, vinegar of strong drink, liquor of grapes, moist or dried grapes, from all that is made of the wine-tree, from the kernels even unto the husks. 2. His hair was to grow long and no razor was to come upon hi

THE PRIESTLY BLESSING. This blessing, though incorporated in P, has probably been derived from some earlier source (perhaps a psalm, _cf._ Psalms 4:6; Psalms 29:11; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 67:1; Psalms 67:6 f., Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19;...

THE LORD. Jehovah the Son, the _channel_ of all blessing, Ephesians 1:3. Compare Acts 3:26; Hebrews 10:10. FACE: put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct), for whole Person. App-6. Also Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia._...

DISCOURSE: 146 GOD WILL BLESS HIS OWN ORDINANCES Numbers 6:23. _On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them._ THE exercise of benevolence is that which every child of God should cultivate to the uttermost: but ministers above all should consider it as the distinguishing badge of their office: they are compelled indeed sometimes to “use sharpness;” but whether they rebuke, or whether they exhort, they should be actuated by nothing but a principle of love. Under the law, it was a very important part of the priestly office to bless the people; and God prescribed a form of words to be used by Aaron and hi

SPEAK UNTO AARON AND UNTO HIS SONS— The Lord here prescribes the form of blessing wherewith the congregation was to be dismissed by the priest in waiting; who, with loud voice and uplifted hands, used to say, _The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:_ "May God both bestow upon thee plenty of good things, and preserve thee in the happy use of them. May Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bestow on thee the blessings of his covenant of grace and peace; make thee partaker of the Father's love, of the Son's redeeming grace, of the Spirit's comforting and sanctifying influences; _and keep thee_ from all those evils of sin and Satan, from which of thyself thou art utterly unable to escape." _The Lord make his face to shine upon thee:_ "blessing thee with the sensible effects of his favour, like the sun, cheering and enlivening the face of nature; so may he enlighten thy darkness, warm thy heart w...

E. THE AARONIC BENEDICTION vv. 22-27 TEXT Numbers 6:22. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23. Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26. the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. PARAPHRASE Numbers 6:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23. Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, -In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, 24. The Lord bless you, and keep you; 25. The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you: 26. The Lord lift up His countenance u