Números 6
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Números 6
Wiersbe - Their separation was twofold: to the Lord (v. 2) and from what defiled (vv. 3–8). Even little things could defile, like the seeds and skins of grapes! When God says something is wrong, it is wrong, no matter how small a thing it may seem to be. NET Note on skin - Here is another hapax legomenon, a word only found here. The word seems linked to the verb “to be clear,” and so may mean the thin skin of the grape. The reason for the strictness with these two words in this verse is uncertain. We know the actual meanings of the words, and the combination must form a merism here, meaning no part of the grape could be eaten. Abstaining from these common elements of food was to be a mark of commitment to the LORD. Hos 3:1 even denounces the raisin cakes as part of a pagan world, and eating them would be a violation of the oath. C H
Números 6
Wiersbe - The Nazirite stated at the beginning how long the vow would last, but our separation to the Lord must be for life. However, it is not wrong occasionally to set aside periods of time for special devotion to the Lord, just as the Nazirites did. If the Nazirite became defiled, all the days of the dedication were lost (v. 12). It is a costly thing to disobey the Lord. Even though the Nazirite had lived in dedication, it was still necessary to bring sacrifices to the Lord, for nobody is perfect before Him. (WWBC) Numbers 6:14 'He shall present his offering to the LORD: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering and one ewe-lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering and one ram without defect for a peace offering, one he: Lev 1:10-13 1Ch 15:26,28,29 one ewe: Lev 4:2,3,27,32 Mal 1:13,14 1Pe 1:19 one ram: Lev 3:6 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BURNT OFFERING AND PEACE OFFERING He shall present his offering to the LORD: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering and one ewe-lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering and one ram without defect for a peace offering - Note that this is an "expensive" process for three animals were sacrificed! Note also the need for sin offering indicates the Nazirite vow did not make the person sinless. Peace offering (Lev 3:6+) is also known as fellowship offering. Currid on peace offering - The Nazirite’s final offering is a peace offering. This sacrifice is frequently voluntary in nature and when it is offered ‘it appears to be a joyous occasion which represents the living communion and fellowship between the worshipper and God’. The completion of the Nazirite vow ends on a happy note; it is a joyful occasion because the devotee has kept his word and his vow to God. (A Study Commentary in Numbers) Peace offerings (08002)(selem/shelem) is a noun which means fellowship offerings, thanksgiving offerings and all uses (except Amos 5:22) are in the plural form (selamim). The root Hebrew word conveys the idea of completion and fulfillment, of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship. The peace offerings were voluntary offerings (like burnt and grain offerings) given to God with thanks and praise. Uses in numbers - um. 6:14; Num. 6:17; Num. 6:18; Num. 7:17; Num. 7:23; Num. 7:29; Num. 7:35; Num. 7:41; Num. 7:47; Num. 7:53; Num. 7:59; Num. 7:65; Num. 7:71; Num. 7:77; Num. 7:83; Num. 7:88; Num. 10:10; Num. 15:8; Num. 29:39; THOUGHT - Does the peace offering that speaks of fellowship with God not make us think of Paul's words in Eph 2:14+ that " He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." And Col 1:20+ "through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. " And Romans 5:1-2+ "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." Related Resource: Chart Summarizing the Offerings Question: What is a peace offering / fellowship offering? Answer: The modern idea of a peace offering, also known as a fellowship offering, is that of “a propitiatory or conciliatory gift.” A man who offends his wife will often visit a florist with the thought that bringing home flowers will help smooth things over—the bouquet will be a “peace offering” of sorts. Propitiate means “to make someone pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired,” and conciliatory means “intended to placate or pacify.” These definitions are interesting because the phrase peace offering has come to mean something completely different—almost the exact opposite—of what it originally meant in the Bible. A peace offering in the Old Testament Law is described in Leviticus 7:11–21. It was a voluntary sacrifice given to God in three specific instances. First, a peace offering could be given as a freewill offering, meaning that the worshiper was giving the peace offering as a way to say thank you for God’s unsought generosity. It was basically just a way to praise God for His goodness. The second way a peace offering could be given was alongside a fulfilled vow. A good example of this was when Hannah fulfilled her vow to God by bringing Samuel to the temple; on that occasion she also brought a peace offering to express the peace in her heart toward God concerning her sacrifice—it was a way to say, “I have no resentment; I am holding nothing back in the payment of my vow.” The third purpose of a peace offering was to give thanksgiving for God’s deliverance in an hour of dire need. None of these three reasons to sacrifice had anything to do with propitiation, with appeasing God, or with pacifying Him. There were under the Old Covenant sacrifices intended to represent propitiation (Leviticus 1—2; 4) but with the understanding that God has always been a God of grace (see Ephesians 2:8–9). He does not expect us to appease Him with our works but only to confess our need and dependence on Him. Under the Old Covenant, this relationship was expressed by the sacrificial system, which always looked forward to the sacrifice of the Messiah. Under the New Covenant, the Law has been written on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3), and the Holy Spirit of God gives us the power to live our lives accordingly (Romans 8:1–8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). The sacrifices we give now are spiritual (Hebrews 13:15) and living (Romans 12:1). Most sacrifices in the Old Testament system were not eaten by worshipers, but the peace offering was meant to be eaten—only a portion of the animal or grain brought to the altar was burned; the rest was given back to the worshiper and to the poor and hungry. The beautiful picture here is of God’s provision for His people, both physically and spiritually. His grace and goodness are present throughout the offerings. In the peace offering, God was providing what we need: a way to thank Him for His goodness and physical sustenance. God is not interested in taking from us. That is not His heart at all. But the lie we so often believe is that our good actions bring about His goodness, and our sinful actions must be paid for in personal sacrifice. The peace offering shows that worshipers in the Old Testament were not any more responsible for their salvation than worshipers in the New Testament. Throughout the ages, people have been tempted to think that sacrifices create God’s favor. This belief is evident in our modern understanding of a peace offering as a propitiation for wrongdoing. But only Christ’s sacrifice creates favor with God and covers wrongdoing, and the Old Testament sacrifices were a picture of that future provision.(Source: GotQuestions.org) Numbers 6:15 and a basket of unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil, along with their grain offering and their drink offering. a basket: Lev 2:4 8:2 9:4 Joh 6:50-59 anointed: Ex 29:2 drink: Nu 15:5,7,10 Isa 62:9 Joe 1:9,13 2:14 1Co 10:31 11:26 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries and a basket of unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil, along with their grain offering and their drink offering. Numbers 6:16 'Then the priest shall present them before the LORD and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then the priest shall present them before the LORD - Them refers to all the various sacrifices previously outlined in vv13-15. Bush on shall present - Heb. hikrib, lit. shall cause to come near; a term which is interchanged with “offer,” 1 Chron. 16:1, “they offered (yakribu) burnt-sacrifices,” etc. compared with 2 Sam. 6:17, “And David offered (yaal) burnt-offerings,” etc. and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. Numbers 6:17 'He shall also offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, together with the basket of unleavened cakes; the priest shall likewise offer its grain offering and its drink offering. Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries He shall also offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD - Bush says "It was here a token of thankfulness that he had been enabled to fulfil his vow, and a kind of rejoicing festival before the Lord, as the flesh of the peace-offerings was eaten by him who brought the sacrifice after the Lord and the priest had had their portions." Peace offerings (08002) see above on selem/shelem together with the basket of unleavened cakes (Lev 8:26) - the priest shall likewise offer its grain offering and its drink offering - "From this it is obvious that the meat-offering (meal-offering) and the drink-offering were distinct from the basket of unleavened bread." (Bush) Numbers 6:18 'The Nazirite shall then shave his dedicated head of hair at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and take the dedicated hair of his head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings. shave the head: The hair, which was permitted to grow for this purpose, was shaven off, as a token that the vow was accomplished. Nu 6:5,9 Ac 18:18 21:24,26 and put it: Lu 17:10 Eph 1:6 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NEXT STEP SHAVING THE HAIR The Nazirite shall then shave his dedicated head of hair at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and take the dedicated hair of his head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings ESVSB - the Nazirite shaved his head and burned his hair on the altar. His unshaven head marked his dedication to God, and by burning the hair he symbolically gave himself to God. Wiersbe - One of the most important parts of the ceremony was the shaving of the Nazirite’s head and the placing of the hair on the altar fire under the peace offering. It was a special offering to the Lord because the long hair symbolized the vow the Nazirite had made to the Lord and had successfully fulfilled. Once these instructions had been obeyed, the Nazirite was allowed to drink wine (v20). (Be Counted) Currid - Some commentators argue that the hair is being offered or dedicated to God. This is unlikely; it probably is merely the way to dispose of the hair so that it should not be profaned in some way.58 It is also symbolic: when the hair is burned up, so is the Nazirite vow. Peace offerings (08002) see above on selem/shelem Numbers 6:19 'The priest shall take the ram's shoulder when it has been boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his dedicated hair. the sodden: Lev 8:31 1Sa 2:15 put them: Ex 29:23-28 Lev 7:30 8:27 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The priest shall take the ram's shoulder when it has been boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his dedicated hair. Numbers 6:20 'Then the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. It is holy for the priest, together with the breast offered by waving and the thigh offered by lifting up; and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine.' the priest shall: Nu 5:25 Ex 29:27,28 Lev 9:21 10:15 23:11 with the wave: Nu 18:18 Lev 7:31,34 and after: Ps 16:10,11 Ec 9:7 Isa 25:6 35:10 53:10-12 Zec 9:15,17 10:7 Mt 26:29 Mk 14:25 Joh 17:4,5 19:30 2Ti 4:7,8 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. It is holy for the priest, together with the breast offered by waving and the thigh offered by lifting up; and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine. Wave offering (08573)(tenupah from nuph = to move to and fro, to wave, to sprinkle) is a feminine noun which means swinging, waving, then wave offering. Tenuphah implies the side to side motion involved in waving and thus is usually a reference to a "wave offering" but twice is translated simply as "offering" (Ex 38:24, 29). Halladay says it is "an offering waved toward the altar & away fm. it in consecration." Swanson on wave offering - a sacrifice of animal, plants, or plant products, or metals that are waved before the LORD as a symbolic offering of ritual manipulation. Eugene Merrill on wave offering - The concept of "wave offering" comes from the action of the Hebrew verb nuph, "move to and fro, wave" (BDB, 631) used first in this verse. The exact action is unknown and suggestions have ranged from a movement toward the altar and back again in a horizontal motion symbolizing the giving of the offering by the worshiper and the reception of the offering by God, to a side-to-side motion, to a shaking motion (e.g., Isa. 19:16; 30:28). There are occasions when a literal waving motion appears to be impossible such as when the tribe of Levi was presented as a wave offering (Nu 8:11). Whatever the motion, the implication is that this item was presented to the LORD but would not be burned but rather used by someone designated by the LORD (i.e., the priests). Earlier on in the Pentateuch, this term was used as a general term referring to various gifts that were dedicated to God (e.g., Ex. 35:22). It is used later in Lev. 14:12, 24; 23:11, 12, 20. It is also used, as here, for the parts of the sacrifices that were designated for the officiating priest. It is never used to designate a non-meat priestly portion. (Ibid) Question: "What is a wave offering?" Answer: The wave offering, part of the offerings of the Mosaic Law, was the symbolic act indicating that the offering was for the Lord. Portions of the things offered were literally waved in the air before the Lord. The wave offering is first seen in Exodus 29:19-28 in the description of the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons. This is the only instance where part of the wave offering was consumed by fire (Exodus 29:25). The remainder was “waved” to God but taken by Aaron, his sons, and Moses. Other instances of wave offerings include the breast of a peace offering (Leviticus 7:28-34), a lamb from the cleansing sacrifice of a healed leper (Leviticus 14:12), and two loaves of bread and two lambs of the sacrifice affiliated with the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-21). The largest wave offering was of an entire tribe. Because of their loyalty during the episode with the golden calf (Exodus 32), God accepted the Levites in the service of His temple in place of the firstborn male of each Israelite family (Numbers 3:12). A wave offering was a portion of a sacrifice presented to God, then released by God for the use of those involved in the sacrifice. The meat fed the families of the priests. The Levites served first the tabernacle and then the temple, fulfilling the obligation of the rest of the Israelites. Both were God’s provision for those who sacrificed themselves in service to Him. (Source - GotQuestions.org) Numbers 6:21 "This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation." NET Numbers 6:21 "This is the law of the Nazirite who vows to the LORD his offering according to his separation, as well as whatever else he can provide. Thus he must fulfill his vow that he makes, according to the law of his separation." NLT Numbers 6:21 "This is the ritual law of the Nazirites, who vow to bring these offerings to the LORD. They may also bring additional offerings if they can afford it. And they must be careful to do whatever they vowed when they set themselves apart as Nazirites." ESV Numbers 6:21 "This is the law of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to the LORD above his Nazirite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the Nazirite." NIV Numbers 6:21 " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' " the law: Nu 5:29 beside that: Ezr 2:69 Ga 6:6 Heb 13:16 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation. Numbers 6:22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying Believer's Study Bible - (v22-27) This is the climax of chs. 5; 6. The result of Israel's removing defilement from their midst (ch. 5) and of dedicating themselves to the Lord (Nu 6:1-21) would be this divine blessing pronounced upon the people by Aaron. It is one of the most beautiful benedictions in the Bible and is given in part in Ps. 4:6 and 67:1. Referred to as "the Lord's Prayer of the O.T.," this would continue to be the priestly prayer for Israel. The blessing invokes the power of the divine name Yahweh three times, causing many Christians, from the church fathers on, to see in it a foreshadowing of the doctrine of the Trinity. The expression "lift up His countenance" in v. 26 is similar to the English "smile." Wiersbe - What a privilege it was for the priests to bless the people, and what a privilege it is for us to share God’s blessing with others. He blesses us so that we may be a blessing (Gen. 12:1–3). The people were about to enter into war, yet God told them how to have peace. No matter how trying your circumstances may be, you can have God’s peace as you live under the blessing of His smile. (WWBC) D L Moody - I THINK these are about as sweet verses as we find in the Old Testament. I marked them years ago in my Bible, and many times I have turned to this chapter and read them. They remind us of the loving words of Jesus to His troubled disciples, “It is I: be not afraid.” The Jewish salutation used to be, as a man went into a house, “Peace be upon this house,” and as he left the house the host would say, “Go in peace.” Jensen - The Aaronic benediction of Nu 6:22–27 is located in the context very appropriately. All the previous verses speak of the law of separation; now shines the grace of God’s face (Nu 6:25). The fact that Aaron and his sons were to pronounce the benediction upon the children of Israel did not make it irrelevant to the Nazirite. If such blessings were promised an Israelite, how much greater measure of such blessing could the Nazirite expect! Looking at it from another angle: if the Israelites really perceived that these blessings were all of grace and none deserved, would not some of them, out of gratitude, choose to take the Nazirite vow to enter this special relationship with Jehovah? The Lord promised to give happiness and security (Nu 6:24). The Lord would give grace and favor (Nu 6:25). The Lord would give peace of heart (Nu 6:26). The blessings of Canaan, God’s rest-land, were summed up in this great benediction. These were the things the Israelites could have—on the journey and in the promised land—if they would put the Lord’s name over their lives (Nu 6:27). IF NOT—that tragic story is told in most of the remaining chapters of Numbers. How to Recognize God’s Blessings - Russell Spray Scripture Reading: Numbers 6:22–27 “And I will bless them” (Num. 6:27). I. Protective Care “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee” (Num. 6:24). A. This generation is the most dangerous, reckless, lawless in the history of the world. B. God promises to bless those who walk in His statutes and keep His commandments with protective care. C. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). II. Paternal Love “The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee” (Num. 6:25). A. The Lord’s favor and love have always been extended to His people (Lev. 26:12). B. God loves His children with a paternal love; He is gracious, kind, and understanding. C. We become His children by confessing our sins, trusting Him to forgive and cleanse us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). III. Peaceful Approbation “The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Num. 6:26). A. The blessing of peace was given to the children of Israel when they obeyed God (Lev. 26:6). B. The blessing of peace will be bestowed upon those who keep their minds stayed on the Lord (Isa. 26:3). C. In today’s world of strife, let us thank God for His blessing of peaceful approbation. James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - THE PRIESTLY BLESSING Numbers 6:22–27 Just as the blue of Heaven is bigger than the clouds of earth, so the riches of His blessing is greater than our need. But a very small cloud may hide the blue. The clouds rise from earth, and are changing and fleeting, the blue is eternal. His blessing, it maketh rich. 1. The giving of the blessing. God has always plenty to give. It was given— 1. THROUGH A MEDIATOR. “God spake unto Moses, saying” (v. 22). Moses was to the people what Christ is to us, the medium of Divine blessing. There is none other Name under Heaven. 2. AFTER ATONEMENT HAD BEEN MADE (see Lev. 9). He cannot bless us until we have been reconciled through the death of His Son. We must be born of God before we can receive the children’s portion. First the Blood, then the blessing. 3. RICHLY. The name Jehovah is repeated three times, indicating that it was the blessing of the Triune God. This threefold blessing appears in the apostolic benediction— 1. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. The love of God. 3. The communion of the Holy Ghost. God the Father the source of it, God the Son the channel of it, God the Spirit the imparter of it. Bless the Lord, O my soul! 2. The nature of the blessing. It is infinitely deep and full. It implies— 1. INTIMACY. “The Lord bless thee.” It was very personal, and suggests the knowledge of individual need. He commands his blessing, even life for evermore (Psa. 133:3). He knoweth thy need. 2. KEEPING. “Keep thee.” What a blessing to be kept from sin, from the fear of man and the dominion of the devil. Kept in nearness to Himself and in the power of His Spirit. The Lord is thy Keeper (Psa. 121:3–5). Remember the Redeemer’s prayer (John 17:11). 3. LIGHT. “The Lord make His face to shine upon thee.” The light of His face is a glorious light, we see it in the face of Jesus. David prayed, “Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant” (Psa. 31:16). In His light we see light clearly (2 Cor. 4:4). 4. FAVOUR. “Be gracious unto thee.” If we have the grace of God, we have within our reach the wealth of God. Having given us His Son, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who has ever used to the full the favour offered in Christ Jesus? 5. FELLOWSHIP. “The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee.” His own countenance upon thee means the conscious enjoyment of His own personal presence. Blessed are all they, O Lord, that walk in the light of Thy countenance. O to have the face of God ever beaming upon us; how it would blind our eyes to the attractions and alluring things of earth. 6. PEACE. “And give thee peace.” Not only peace with God, this we have through atoning Blood, but the peace of God. God’s own peace ruling and garrisoning our hearts, the peace of God which passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:6, 7). “MY peace I give unto you, let not your heart be troubled.” 7. LIKENESS. “Put My Name upon the children” (v. 27). To put His Name upon us means to put His nature within us. The Name of Christ, the anointed One, is put upon us when we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Spirit is the door into the fulness of the blessing. “I will put My Name upon them, and I will bless them.” Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3–5; Luke 24:50). 1. Jehovah the Father bless thee and keep thee. 2. Jehovah the Son make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. 3. Jehovah the Spirit lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:23 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: Ge 14:19,20 24:60 27:27-29 28:3,4 47:7,10 48:20 Lev 9:22,23 De 10:8 21:5 33:1 Jos 8:33 1Ch 23:13 Lu 24:50,51 Ro 1:7 1Co 1:3 2Co 13:14 Heb 7:1,7 11:20,21 1Pe 1:2 2Pe 1:2,3 2Jn 1:3 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BLESSING THE SONS OF ISRAEL Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you, and keep you; NET Numbers 6:24 "The LORD bless you and protect you; NLT Numbers 6:24 'May the LORD bless you and protect you. ESV Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you; NIV Numbers 6:24 " ' "The LORD bless you and keep you; KJV Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: YLT Numbers 6:24 'Jehovah bless thee and keep thee; LXE Numbers 6:24 The Lord bless thee and keep thee; ASV Numbers 6:24 Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee: CSB Numbers 6:24 May Yahweh bless you and protect you; NKJ Numbers 6:24 "The LORD bless you and keep you; NRS Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you; NAB Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless you and keep you! NJB Numbers 6:24 May Yahweh bless you and keep you. GWN Numbers 6:24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you. The Lord: Ru 2:4 Ps 134:3 1Co 14:16 Eph 6:24 Php 4:23 Rev 1:4,5 keep thee: Ps 91:11 121:4-7 Isa 27:3 42:6 Joh 17:11 Php 4:7 1Th 5:23 1Pe 1:5 Jude 1:24 Numbers 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The LORD bless you, and keep you; NET Note - The short blessing uses the jussive throughout, here the Piel jussive with a pronominal suffix. While the jussive has quite a range of nuances, including wish, desire, prayer, or greeting, the jussives here are stronger. The formal subject of the verb is the LORD, and the speaker pronouncing the blessing is the priest, notably after emerging from the holy of holies where atonement has been made. The LORD says in this passage that when the priest says this, then the LORD will bless them. The jussive then is an oracle, not a wish or a prayer. It is a declaration of what the LORD imparts. It is as binding and sure as a patriarchal blessing which once said officially could not be taken back. The priest here is then pronouncing the word of the LORD, declaring to the congregation the outcome of the atonement. Keep (careful, guard, kept, observe, watch) (08104)(shamar) means to keep, watch, preserve, to guard, to be careful, to watch over, to watch carefully over, to be on one’s guard. The first use of shamar in Ge 2:15 is instructive as Adam was placed in the garden (a perfect environment) and was commanded to "keep" it which in the Septuagint is translated with phulasso (which is used to translate shamar in Nu 6:24) which means to guard like a military sentinel would at his post. Clearly Adam did not do a good job at "keeping" the garden safe from intruders! And because of this failure he was cast out of the garden and angels stationed to "guard (Lxx = phulasso) the way to the tree of life" so that he would not eat of it (Ge 3:24+). After Cain murdered Abel he answered God "Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Ge 4:9) Shamar is used 6 times in the seven verses of Psalm 121 and most notable is our Keeper (3b "He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; ...7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.: see commentary) Uses in Numbers - Num. 1:53; Num. 3:7; Num. 3:8; Num. 3:10; Num. 3:28; Num. 3:32; Num. 3:38; Num. 6:24; Num. 8:26; Num. 9:19; Num. 9:23; Num. 18:3; Num. 18:4; Num. 18:5; Num. 18:7; Num. 23:12; Num. 28:2; Num. 31:30; Num. 31:47 D L Moody - GOD can do what He has done before. He kept Joseph in Egypt; Moses before Pharaoh; Daniel in Babylon; and enabled Elijah to stand before Ahab in that dark day. And I am so thankful that these I have mentioned were men of like passions with ourselves. C H