THE SIX-FOLD BLESSING

Two tiny silver scrolls are the oldest surviving biblical texts. Dated to around 600 BCE, the time of the prophet Jeremiah, they were discovered in 1979, when archaeologist Gabriel Barkay was examining ancient burial caves at Ketef Hinnom. This is just outside the walls of Jerusalem, in the area now occupied by the Begin Heritage Centre. A thirteen-year-old boy assisting Barkay uncovered a hidden chamber beneath the floor of one of the caves. There, the team discovered nearly a thousand ancient artifacts—including these two silver scrolls, no more than an inch long.

Once deciphered, the scrolls were found to contain the Priestly Blessing, first mentioned in this week’s parasha (Bemidbar 6:24–26):

“May the L-d bless you and protect you;
May the L-d shine His face upon you and be gracious to you;
May the L-d lift His face to you and give you peace.”

The structure of these blessings is incremental: a three-word verse, followed by a five-word verse, followed by a seven-word verse. In our liturgy, we refer to them collectively as a Beracha Meshuleshet—a three-fold blessing.

However, Rabbi Mordechai Willig, head of the Beth Din of America, makes a striking observation: it is, in fact, a six-fold blessing. Each verse contains two distinct components, linked by the word “and”:

“May the L-d bless you and protect you;
May the L-d shine His face upon you and be gracious to you;
May the L-d lift His face to you and give you peace.”

The first verse speaks of material blessing. “May the L-d bless you,” says Rashi, refers to wealth—“that your possessions be blessed.” Yet material prosperity can also bring risk and vulnerability. The second half of the verse addresses this: “and protect you.” G-d’s blessing comes with security. As Rashi explains, Hu HaNoten, Hu HaShomer—He is both the One who gives and the One who guards.

The second verse shifts to spiritual blessing. G-d’s shining face, say the Sages, refers to Torah: Zeh Ma’or HaTorah—“this is the light of Torah.” But Torah knowledge, in and of itself, may not always be an unalloyed blessing. A Torah scholar should strive to be a role model, such that looking at him or her, one sees a life filled with chen—graciousness. Hence the second half of the verse: “and be gracious to you.”

The third blessing synthesizes the material and the spiritual. Striking that balance is not simply a matter of time management. We are all called to earn a living, to study Torah, and to live in a way that merits G-d’s blessing in both realms. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that G-d lifting His face to us signals His approval—His affirmation of our efforts. But whatever we achieve, it should ultimately lead to shalom—inner peace and harmony with those around us.

The ancient silver scrolls remind us that these blessings have accompanied the Jewish people for millennia. Whether we hear them in shul or recite them in our own prayers, their timeless message provides strength and comfort.