Study note

Numbers 6:24–26

Psalm 67:1 has a short version of this blessing. This is similar to one found on a silver amulet from Ketef Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem’s Old City. A second, larger silver amulet from the same tomb has the full blessing with words almost the same as here.

The Second Temple period lasted from Ezra to the time of Jesus. Priests would give a blessing at each day's sacrifice or at the end of services. This blessing is still used in Jewish and Christian liturgy (the formal order of prayers and worship, as in 6:27).