Portion 35 of 54 · Numbers
נָשֹׂא
Naso
The longest portion in the Torah, and it contains the blessing most often said over children.
Start by reading it
Numbers 4:21–7:89
4 chapters. About 16 minutes at an unhurried pace.
Paired reading from the prophets: Judges 13:2–25
What happens
- 01
The rest of the Levite duties, and rules for restitution when someone has wronged another.
- 02
The Nazirite vow, for anyone who wants to set themselves apart for a time.
- 03
The priestly blessing: the LORD bless thee and keep thee.
- 04
Twelve identical offerings from twelve tribal leaders, each written out in full.
The thing most people walk past
Twelve identical paragraphs
Each leader brings exactly the same gift, and the Torah writes out all twelve in full rather than saying 'and the same for the rest'. Nobody's offering gets summarised because someone else got there first.
One verse to carry
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee; The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Said over children on Friday nights, at weddings, at ordinations. The oldest known text of it was found on a silver amulet from the seventh century BCE.
A question to sit with
The blessing asks God to 'lift up his face toward you'. What does it mean to be looked at that way?
There is no answer key. This is the part you take with you.