Numbers 5

1the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.*!'The priest willofferoneofthebirdsforasin 611° I offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way, he will purify them* from the guilt "°° 11"°° they incurred through contact with the dead body. Then they must reaffirm their commitment and let their hair begin to grow again. 12The days of their vow that were completed be- 61 6 fore their defilement no longer count. They must rededicate themselves to the LORD as a Nazirite for the full term of their vow, and each must bring a one-year-old male lamb for a guilt offering. 13“This is the ritual law for Nazirites. At the conclusion of their time of separation as Nazirites, they must each go to the entrance of the Tabernacle 14and offer their sacrifices 6:14 I to the LORD: a one-year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a one-year-old “ female lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a peace offering, 15a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes of choice flour mixed with ofive oil and Kum 15:1-7 wafers spread with olive oil—along with their prescribed grain offerings and liquid offerings. 16The priest will present these offerings before the Lor: first the sin offering and the burnt offering; 17then the ram for a peace offering, along with the basket of bread made without yeast. The priest must also present the prescribed grain offering and liquid offering to the LORD. 18Then the Nazirites will shave their heads at the entrance of the Tabernacle. They will ¢18. take the hair that had been dedicated and place it on the fire beneath the peace-offering, sacrifice. 19After the Nazirite’s head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, and he will take from the basket a cake and a wafer made without yeast. He will put them all into the N azirite’s hands. 20Then the priest willliftthem 6:20... up as a special offering before the LORD. These are holy portions for the priest, along with, the breast of the special offering and the thigh of the sacred offering that are lifted up before the LORD. After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine. 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.”

The Priestly Blessing

2222 Then the LORD said to Moses, 23Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 24‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. 6:24 Deut 28:3-6 25May the LORD smile on you 6:25 3.7, 19 and be gracious to you. — 26May the LORD show you his favor 8:26 29:11: and give you his peace.’ 4430/50 27Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Offerings of Dedication

7 On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also 2" 4 40-9-13 anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils.2Thenthelead- 7.5 ers of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their of- Num 1:2-16 ferings. 3 Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the LORD in front of the Tabernacle. 4Then the LORD said to Moses, ®“Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for

6:24-26 A blessing was one way of asking for God’s divinefavor to rest upon others. The ancient blessing in these verseshelps us understand what a blessing was supposed to do. Itsfive parts conveyed hope that God would (1) bless and protectthem; (2) smile on them (be pleased); (3) be gracious (mercifuland compassionate); (4) show his favor toward them (give hisapproval); (5) give peace. When you ask God to bless othersor yourself, you are asking him to do these five things. Theblessing you offer will not only help the one receiving it, it willalso demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a modelof caring for others.7:1ff After the Tabernacle was set up, anointed, and conse-crated, the leaders of the 12 tribes brought gifts and offeringsfor its use and maintenance. All of the people participated—it was everyone's Tabernacle.