“May the Lord bless you and protect you” (Numbers 6:24). “May the Lord bless you and protect you” – with the protection with the blessing. A king of flesh and blood has a slave in Syria, but he resides in Rome. The king sent for him.
He ascended and came to him [the king]. He gave him [the slave] one hundred litra of gold. He [the slave] loaded them and set out on the way. Robbers attacked him and took everything that he [the king] had given him and everything that he had with him.
Could he [the king], perhaps, have protected him from the robbers? Therefore, “may the Lord bless you” with wealth, “and protect you” from the robbers. Another matter: “May the Lord bless you” – with money, “and protect you” – so that you will not become the scapegoat29The one to whom the government turns for payment of penalties incurred by all residents of the city. in your province, and that a penalty will not be imposed upon the province in which they say: Give us gold.
Rather, may He bless you and protect you. “May He bless you” – with sons; “and protect you” – with daughters, who require protection. “May He bless you” – with wealth, “and protect you” – that you will fulfill mitzvot with it. “May the Lord bless you” with the blessing that is explicit in the Torah: “You shall be the most blessed of all the peoples…” (Deuteronomy 7:14); “blessed are you in the city…blessed is your basket…blessed are you upon your arrival” (Deuteronomy 28:3, 5–6); “all these blessings will come upon you…” (Deuteronomy 28:2).
Rabbi Natan says: May he bless you regarding your belongings and protect you regarding your body. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: Is it not that if they are blessed they are protected and if they are protected they are blessed? Why does the verse state: “And protect you”? It is from the evil inclination, so that we will not cause you to depart from the world.
Likewise it says: “For the Lord will be your hope and will protect your foot from being trapped” (Proverbs 3:26). Another matter: “And protect you” – that others will not rule over you. Likewise it says: “By day the sun will not strike you” (Psalms 121:6); “Behold, [the Guardian of Israel] neither slumbers [nor sleeps]… The Lord is your guardian” (Psalms 121:4–5). “ The Lord will guard you from all evil… The Lord will guard your going…” (Psalms 121:7–8).
Another matter: “And protect you” – from the demons that surround you, as it is stated: “One thousand may fall at your side.… for He will charge His angels [to guard you in all your ways]” (Psalms 91:7, 11). Another matter: “And protect you [veyishmerekha]” – He will observe [yishmor] for you the covenant of your patriarchs. Likewise it says: “The Lord your God will observe [veshamar] for you the covenant and the kindness regarding which He took an oath to your patriarchs” (Deuteronomy 7:12).
Another matter: “And protect you [veyishmerekha]” – He will keep [yishmor] the end of days for you. Likewise it says: “A prophecy of Duma: To me one calls from Seir…” (Isaiah 21:11).30This is a prophecy about the end of days, and the continuation of the verse contains the word shomer. Another matter: “And protect you” – He will protect your soul upon death. Likewise it says: “May the soul of my lord be bound in the bond [of life with the Lord your God]” (I Samuel 25:29).
I hear regarding the righteous one and the wicked one? The verse states: “And the souls of your enemies may He cast away [as from a slingshot]” (I Samuel 25:29). Another matter: “And protect you” – He will protect your feet from Gehenna. Likewise it says: “He protects the feet of His pious ones, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (I Samuel 2:9).
They are blessed and protected. From where is it derived that the Divine Presence is in their midst? The verse states: “May the Lord shine His countenance…” (Numbers 6:25). “May the Lord shine…” – may He give you of the light of the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “Arise, shine, [for your light has come]” (Isaiah 60:1), and it says: “Through Your light we see light” (Psalms 36:10), “The Lord is God; He has given us light” (Psalms 118:27).