Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, that explores exactly how that Name was used—and protected—in ancient times.
The passage begins with a verse from Numbers 6:27: “And they shall place My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” So, what does it mean to "place My name" upon someone? Bamidbar Rabbah interprets this to mean blessing the people with the ineffable Name of God. But the rabbis immediately ask: does this apply everywhere?
To answer that, they turn to another verse, this time from Nehemiah 1:9: “To cause My name to dwell.” The text draws a parallel: just as the dwelling place of God's name is the Temple in Jerusalem, so too the full blessing with the ineffable Name was primarily associated with the Temple.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. The text tells us that as corruption increased, the priests began restricting the use of the Name, entrusting it only to the most circumspect among them. We even hear a story from Rabbi Tarfon: "There was an incident where I and my brethren the priests were in a line, and I inclined my ear toward the High Priest, and I heard that he recited it in the midst of the intoning of the priests." Talk about a closely guarded secret! The High Priest was careful to ensure God's name wouldn't be casually overheard.
So, was the blessing with the Name limited only to the Temple? Not quite. The text quotes Exodus 20:21: “In every place I mention My name, [I will come to you and I will bless you].” This suggests that God's blessing is available even in "outlying areas," outside the Temple. However, there's a difference in how the blessing was recited. In the Temple, the Name was recited as it was written, while in the outlying areas, it was recited with an appellation – a substitute or title. In the outlying areas the priests would also lift their hands only to their shoulders, whereas in the Temple they would lift their hands above their heads.
This distinction highlights the special sanctity of the Temple and the care taken in invoking the Divine Name.
But what about those who aren't born into the Israelite community? The text anticipates this question. The initial verse, Numbers 6:23, says "So you shall bless the children of Israel," which seems to exclude converts, women, and slaves. But the verse continues, "And I will bless them." This "them," Bamidbar Rabbah explains, includes everyone.
And who blesses the priests? After all, they are bestowing blessings, but where do theirs come from? The answer, again, is in the verse: "And I will bless them.” The priests bless Israel, and God blesses both. As Deuteronomy 15:6 says: “For the Lord your God has blessed you…”
This passage from Bamidbar Rabbah isn't just about ancient rituals. It's about the power and sanctity of God's name, the importance of intention and reverence, and the inclusivity of divine blessing. It reminds us that even today, the way we approach the sacred – whether through prayer, study, or acts of kindness – should be done with care, humility, and an awareness of the profound mystery we are engaging with. And maybe, just maybe, we'll catch a glimpse of that ineffable Name ourselves.