The Priestly Blessing
Numbers 6:22 And יהוה spoke to Moses saying, 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them how to bless אֶת־ Children of Israel. You are to say to them, 24 יהוה bless you and keep you: 25 יהוה make His face shine on you and be gracious to you: 26 יהוה lift up His face towards you and give you peace. 27 And they will put אֶת־ Name of Mine on the Children of Israel; and I will bless them. C-MATS
Question: What blessings are being bestowed on the Israelites?
יהוה bless you and keep you– Blessing for material prosperity. May your possessions increase, as well as the days of your life. יהוה blesses Israel with prosperity to enable the people to devote themselves to Torah study and fulfillment. The exact form of the blessing must depend on the needs of each individual. The student will be blessed in his learning and the merchant in his business, just as someone’s gratitude for יהוה’s blessing must be expressed according to the degree and form of the prosperity granted him.
יהוה make His face shine on you and be gracious to you– Spiritual blessings of Torah knowledge and inspiration. May יהוה enlighten you so that you will be capable of perceiving the wondrous wisdom of the Torah and of יהוה’s intricate creation. יהוה sheds light upon His workings of the universe. Thus, we can perceive a purpose in creation that, in turn, helps us to better understand the greatness and will of the Creator.
יהוה lift up His face towards you and give you peace– יהוה’s compassion above and beyond what one deserves, as expressed in forgiveness of sin and the giving of peace. May יהוה suppress His anger, meaning that even if you are sinful, יהוה will show you special consideration and not punish you. One may have prosperity, health, food and drink, but if there is no peace it is all worthless. Therefore, the blessings are sealed with the gift of peace. Chumash