“The face of Jesus the Messiah, the light of the world” by L. Michael Morales

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

“YHWH’s ‘blessing’ in the first part of Numbers 6:24 is elaborated with a portrayal of His face shining upon Israel for the sake of acting graciously toward them.

The first part of the verse calls for YHWH’s movement and favourable disposition toward Israel, out of which the second part calls for a concrete action, expressing such favour.

God is linked to light by His first speech in Scripture, ‘Let there be light (’ôr)’ (Gen. 1:3), a light traditionally understood as uncreated, a manifestation of YHWH’s glory.

Given the Dwelling’s eastward orientation, solar imagery is possible here— note the description of Judah’s encampment: ‘eastward, toward the rising of the sun’ (Num. 2:3).

Psalm 31:16 parallels ‘Shine your face upon Your servant’ with ‘save me in Your steadfast love’.

For YHWH to ‘be gracious’ to Israel means that His people will experience His loving-kindness and tender mercies in all spheres of life.

Ultimately, it is the face of Jesus the Messiah, the light of the world (John 8:12; cf. 1:9), that shines the light of the glory of God upon the redeemed (2 Cor. 4:6).

His transfiguration fulfils many of the expressions in the Aaronic benediction.”

–L. Michael Morales, Numbers 1–19, ed. David W. Baker and Beth M. Stovell, vol. 4a, Apollos Old Testament Commentary (London: Apollos, 2024), 170. Morales is commenting on Numbers 6:25.