Numbers 6

The Nazirite Vow

1 The Lord instructed Moses:

2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow,^[a] to consecrate himself to^[b] the Lord,

3 he is to abstain^[c] from wine and beer.^[d] He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from beer. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins.

4 He is not to eat anything produced by the grapevine, from seeds to skin,^[e] during his vow.

5 "You must not cut his hair^[f] throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He must be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the Lord; he is to let the hair of his head grow long.

6 He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the Lord.^[g]

7 He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, because the hair consecrated to his God is on his head.

8 He is holy to the Lord during the time of consecration.

9 "If someone suddenly dies near him, defiling his consecrated head of hair, he must shave his head on the day of his purification; he is to shave it on the seventh day.^[h]

10 On the eighth day he is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^[i]

11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering^[j] to make atonement on behalf of the Nazirite, since he sinned because of the corpse. On that day he must consecrate^[k] his head [again].^[l]

12 He is to rededicate his time of consecration to the Lord and to bring a year-old male lamb as a restitution offering.^[m] But do not count the previous period, because his consecrated hair became defiled.

13 "This is the law of the Nazirite: On the day his time of consecration is completed, he must be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.^[n]

14 He is to present an offering to the Lord ^[o] of one unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, one unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, one unblemished ram as a fellowship offering,^[p]

15 along with their grain offerings and drink offerings,^[q] and a basket of unleavened cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers coated with oil.^[r]

16 "The priest is to present [these] before the Lord and sacrifice the Nazirite's sin offering and burnt offering.

17 He will also offer the ram as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord, together with the basket of unleavened bread. Then the priest will offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering.

18 "The Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair from his head, and put [it] on the fire under the fellowship sacrifice.

19 The priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put [them] into the hands^[s] of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated head.

20 The priest is to wave them as a presentation offering before the Lord.^[t] It is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution.^[u] After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 "This is the ritual of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord for his consecration,^[v] in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfill whatever vow he makes in keeping with the ritual for his consecration."

The Priestly Blessing

22 The Lord spoke to Moses:

23 "Tell Aaron and his sons how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 The Lord bless you and protect you;^[w]

25 the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;^[x]

26 the Lord look with favor on you^[y] and give you peace.^{[z] [aa]}

27 In this way they will put^[ab] My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

Numbers 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

The law concerning the Nazarites. (1-21) The form of blessing the people. (22-27)

Verses 1-21 The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were appointed of God, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the world and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, and under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious men might not multiply the restraints endlessly, God gives them rules. They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separate themselves to God, must not gratify the desires of the body, but keep it under. Let all Christians be very moderate in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the mastery of a man, he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothing that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us. They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads, nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite. This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves to God, must keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be holy to the Lord. This was the meaning of those outward observances, and without this they were of no account. No penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who wilfully broke their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profane trifling with the Lord their God; but those were to be relieved who did not sin wilfully. There is nothing in Scripture that bears the least resemblance to the religious orders of the church of Rome, except these Nazarites. But mark the difference, or rather how completely opposed! The religious of that church are forbidden to marry; but no such restriction is laid upon the Nazarites. They are commanded to abstain from meats; but the Nazarites might eat any food allowed other Israelites. They are not generally forbidden wine, not even on their fasting days; but the Nazarites might not have wine at any time. Their vow is lasting, even to the end of their lives; the Nazarites' vow was only for a limited time, at their own will; and in certain cases not unless allowed by husbands or parents. Such a thorough difference there is between rules of man's invention and those directed in Scripture, Let us not forget that the Lord Jesus is not only our Surety, but also our example. For his sake we must renounce worldly pleasures, abstain from fleshy lusts, be separate from sinners, make open profession of our faith, moderate natural affections, be spiritually-minded, and devoted to God's service, and desirous to be an example all around us.

Verses 22-27 The priests were solemnly to bless the people in the name of the Lord. To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings. In so rich a list of mercies worldly joys are not worthy to be mentioned. Here is a form of prayer. The name Jehovah is three times repeated. The Jews think there is some mystery; and we know what it is, the New Testament having explained it. There we are directed to expect the blessing from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the communion of the ( 2 Corinthians. 13:14 ) yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jdg 13:5,7; 16:17
• [b]. Or vow, to live as a Nazirite for
• [c]. The words Nazirite, consecrate, and abstain come from the same Hb word, which involves the idea of separation.
• [d]. Jdg 13:4,7,14
• [e]. Or from unripe grapes to hulls
• [f]. Lit A razor is not to pass over his head
• [g]. Nm 19:11-16
• [h]. Nm 19:11
• [i]. Nm 6:18; Ex 29:42-43; Lv 5:7
• [j]. Lv 1:14-17; 5:7-10
• [k]. Lit set apart
• [l]. Lv 15:13-15
• [m]. Lv 5:14-19; 7:1-6
• [n]. Nm 8:9; Lv 14:11
• [o]. Ac 21:24
• [p]. Lv 1:10-13; 3:1-5; 4:32-35
• [q]. Nm 15:1-12; Ex 29:40-41; Lv 23:12-13,18
• [r]. Ex 29:2; Lv 2:4-11; 7:12
• [s]. Ex 29:24; Lv 2:4-11
• [t]. Ex 29:25-27
• [u]. Ex 25:2-3; 29:27-28; Lv 7:14,32,34
• [v]. Ac 21:24
• [w]. Ps 121:4,7; 128:5; 134:3
• [x]. Ps 67:1; 80:3; 89:15; 119:135
• [y]. Lit Lord lift His face to you
• [z]. Or prosperity
• [aa]. Ps 4:6; 147:14
• [ab]. Or invoke

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 6

In this chapter is given the law concerning Nazarites, Nu 6:1,2; which directs what they were to abstain from, from drinking wine, or any strong liquors, from shaving their heads, and defiling themselves with the dead, Nu 6:3-8; and in case of a defilement, directions are given what offerings a Nazarite should bring to be offered for him, Nu 6:9-12; and when the time of his Nazariteship was up, an account is given of what rites and ceremonies should then be performed, Nu 6:13-21; and the chapter is concluded with the form of blessing the children of Israel, to be used by Aaron and his sons, Nu 6:22-27.