Numbers 6:21-23

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Numbers 6:21 tn Actually, “law” here means a whole set of laws, the basic rulings on this topic.
2. Numbers 6:21 tn Heb “whatever else his hand is able to provide.” The imperfect tense has the nuance of potential imperfect—“whatever he can provide.”
3. Numbers 6:21 tn Heb “according to the vow that he vows, so he must do.”
4. Numbers 6:22 sn This brief section records the blessing of the priest, especially the high priest after he emerges from the holy of holies to bless the people (see Lev 9:22). The two main elements in the oracle are “grace and peace.” It is probable that the Apostle Paul based his salutations on this oracle. For additional information, see L. J. Liebreich, “The Songs of Ascent and the Priestly Blessing,” JBL 74 (1955): 33-36; P. D. Miller, “The Blessing of God: An Interpretation of Num 6:22-27, ” Int 29 (1975): 240-51; and A. Murtonen, “The Use and Meaning of the Words l^ebarek and b^erakah in the Old Testament,” VT 9 (1959): 158-77.
5. Numbers 6:23 tn Or “thus.”
6. Numbers 6:23 tn The Piel imperfect has the nuance of instruction. The particle “thus” explains that the following oracle is the form to use.
7. Numbers 6:23 tn Here is the only use of the verb אָמַר (ʾamar) as an infinitive absolute; it functions as a verb form, an imperative or an imperfect of instruction. Several commentators have attempted to emend the text to get around the difficulty, but such emendations are unnecessary.