Priestly-Blessing
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Throughout this
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Colour coded
details of the - TaNaKh:
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The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon,
Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following three
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Eloleichem) which I
command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory
will I not give to another”. Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים
“The
Priestly Blessing”.
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
The priestly
blessing given to Acharon - Aaron and his sons is one of the Torah’s most tender and theologically
rich passages. Spoken as a Divine command, it frames blessing not as human wish
fullness but as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) own action toward Israel: ‘protection’,
‘graciousness’, and ‘peace’. Over time the text became the liturgical
benediction of the Temple and synagogue, a ritual moment when the community
receives אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s favour through the hands of the priests.
A historical and liturgical background:
1. Origin:
A
direct command from יְהוָה - the LORD, to Moshe to instruct the priests to bless the
people.
2. Temple practice:
The Kohanim pronounced this blessing after sacrificial rites.
3. Synagogue use:
Many
communities retain the blessing as a concluding benediction; in Israel it is
often recited daily, elsewhere on festivals or special occasions.
Let us now read the relevant six verses:
Be’midbar - Numbers 6: 22-27. (JPS-1917):
As you can see
below, the Hebrew verses are first (right), followed by the English translation
(left):
וַיְדַבֵּר
יְהוָה,
אֶל-מֹשֶׁה
לֵּאמֹר
22. “And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto
Moshe, saying:
דַּבֵּר
אֶל-אַהֲרֹן
וְאֶל-בָּנָיו
לֵאמֹר, כֹּה
תְבָרְכוּ
אֶת-בְּנֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל:
אָמוֹר, לָהֶם
23. ‘Speak unto Acharon - Aaron and unto
his sons, saying: On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel; ye shall
say unto them:
יְבָרֶכְךָ
יְהוָה,
וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
24. יְהוָה - the LORD, bless thee, and keep thee;
יָאֵר
יְהוָה פָּנָיו
אֵלֶיךָ,
וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
25. יְהוָה
- the LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be
gracious unto thee;
יִשָּׂא
יְהוָה
פָּנָיו
אֵלֶיךָ,
וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ
שָׁלוֹם
26. יְהוָה
- the LORD lift up His
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
וְשָׂמוּ
אֶת-שְׁמִי,
עַל-בְּנֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל;
וַאֲנִי, אֲבָרְכֵם
27. So shall they put My Name upon the
children of Israel, and I will bless them’”.
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A verse-by-verse look at verses 22 to 27:
v. 22-23 (Command and formula): אֱלֹהִים instructs Moshe to tell Acharon - Aaron and his sons the exact words. The Divine origin provides the blessing its authority; the priests are mediators, not originators.
v. 24 “יְהוָה - the LORD, bless thee, and keep thee”: Bless - יְבָרֶכְךָ implies bestowal of good; keep - וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ connotes protection and preservation, both material and spiritual.
v. 25 “Make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee”: The image of אֱלֹהִים -Elohim’s face shining evokes favour and presence; gracious - וִיחֻנֶּךָּ signals divine compassion and acceptance.
v. 26 “Lift up His countenance … and give thee peace”: Lifting the countenance intensifies personal attention; shalom is comprehensive, ‘wellbeing’, ‘wholeness’, ‘reconciliation’.
v. 27 “So shall they put My Name … and I will bless them”: The priests place אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name upon Israel, being an act of consecration, and אֱלֹהִים Himself promises to bless, closing the loop between human ritual and Divine action.
I pray that the above has provided you with
further understanding of this wonderful Aronic blessing, as it was given to us by יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ
- the LORD our Eloheiunu, blessed be His
Sanctified Name!
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down
the page!
In
Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a
particular line or statement within it has touched you the most? And
how do you feel about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray
that you are doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are
upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember
this, I pray for peace and solitude in your life, and then work on keeping
as calm as possible and learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He
is always there and ready to help and guide you!
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PLEASE NOTE: If you need any assistance, just ask, I will assist, and I can also send an email to you, special items to help you with whatever you may need! Just email me and I will send it to your email, There will no follow up’s whatsoever, or any requests from me, unless you wish further information, (use the email s further down this page).
This site was originally
created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith.
Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day
(if possible) and always seek אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance! For interest, as you may have
discovered, this site has become very much a teaching one!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy
your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Eloheichem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YHVH your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel
- Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is the one who gave us our Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת-
יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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