Numbers 6

Numbers 6:1

E. The Law of the Nazirite (Chap. 6)6:1-8 The word “Nazirite” comes from a root meaning “to separate.” The vow of a Nazirite was a voluntary vow which a man or woman could make for a specified period of time. The Mishna states that a Nazirite vow could last as long as 100 days, but the usual length was thirty days. In some rare cases, people were Nazirites for lifee.g., Samuel, Samson, John the Baptist. The vow contained three provisions: (1) He would neither . . . eat nor drink of the fruit of the grapevineincluding vinegar, wine, grape juice, grapes or raisins (vv. 2-4); (2) he would not cut his hair (v. 5); (3) he would not go near a dead body (vv. 6-8). Wine speaks of human joy. Long hair, being a shame for a man, is a sign of humiliation. A dead body causes defilement. Thus the Nazirite was, and is, an enigma to the children of this world. To be joyful, he withdrew from joy; to be strong, he became weak; and in order to love his relatives, he ‘hated’ them (Luk_14:26). 6:9-12 This paragraph describes the procedure to be used when a man broke a vow through unintentional contact with a dead body. First he had to go through the seven-day cleansing process described in Numbers 19. On the seventh day he shaved his head, and on the following day he offered two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He also brought a yearling lamb for a trespass offering. In spite of all the offerings, the days of his original separation were lost, and he had to begin all over again. Thus although a defiled Nazirite could be reconsecrated, the days of his defilement were lost. For us, this means that a backslidden believer can be restored but the time spent out of fellowship with God is wasted. 6:13-21 Here we have the ceremony required when a man came to the close of the time of his vow. Four offerings were broughtburnt, sin, peace, and meal (vv. 14, 15). The Nazirite shaved his . . . head and burned the hair in the fire . . . under . . . the peace offering (v. 18). The priest’s part in the ritual is given in verses 16, 17, 19, and 20. Verse 21 refers to a freewill offering which the Nazirite could offer upon completion of his vow. 6:22-27 The closing verses of chapter 6 give the lovely and familiar blessing with which Aaron and his sons were to bless the people. The great evangelist D. L. Moody appreciated it very much: Here is a benediction that can go all the world over, and can give all the time without being impoverished. Every heart may utter it: it is the speech of God: every letter may conclude with it; every day may begin with it; every night may be sanctified by it. Here is blessingkeepingshiningthe uplifting upon our poor life of all heaven’s glad morning. It is the Lord himself who brings this bar of music from heaven’s infinite anthems.