Numbers 6

Laws touching the Nazarites, vers. 1. Etc. of the clearness required of them, 3. Of the manner how a Nazarite becoming unclean was to be purified, 9. Of the Ceremonies to be used, upon the Vows accomplished, 13. Of the form of blessings, which the Priests were to observe and follow in blessing of the Congregation, 22.

1. And the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

2. Speak unto the Children of Israel, and say to them; when a man or woman shall have separated (themselves) vowing the vow of a Nazarite, [The Hebr. Word Nazir, written with the letter Zain doth signify one separated, viz. from the world, to give himself wholly up to the meditation of the holy and heavenly things, and the observation of God’s worship and service: These Nazarites were a sign which was spiritually, though not literally fulfilled in Christ. Of these see likewise, Judges 13:5. Lamentations 4:7. And Amos 2:11. They are to be distinguished from Nazarites, written with the Letter Tzade, as called so from the City of Nazareth, whence Christ also was called a Nazarite, Matthew 2:23. And the Christians also Nazarites, Acts 24:5. Of the Nazarites there were two sorts: 1. Those whom God expressly chose and appointed to be such, as Samson, Judges 13:5. And (as some do hold) John the Baptist, Luke 1:15. 2. Such as of their own accord became such, as those here spoken of] for to separate themselves to the LORD.

3. He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, wine-vinegar, and vinegar of strong drink [See Lev. 10., on verse 7.] he shall not drink, neither shall he drink any moisture (or sap, juice) of grapes, nor eat fresh or dried grapes.

4. All the days of his Nazarite ship shall he eat nothing of ought that is made of the Vine of Wine, [So Judges 13:14. i.e. which beareth grapes and bringeth forth none, Haggai 2:20.] from the kernels unto the husks.

5. All the days of the Vow of his Nazarite-ship, the razor shall not go over his head; until these days shall be fulfilled, which he shall have separated himself unto the LORD, shall he be holy [i.e. dedicated and consecrated to the LORD] letting the locks of his hair to grow.

6. All the days he shall have separated himself to the LORD, shall not he go to the corps [Heb. Soul, See Lev. 19. On verse 28. And here below verse 11.] of a dead (person).

7. For his Father or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, for them he shall not defile himself, they being dead; for the Nazarite-ship of his God is upon his head. [i.e. the token of his Nazarite-ship or separation, to wit, the long hair, which during his vow, he was not to cut or shorten, comp. below vers. 9. And 19.]

8. All the days of his Nazarite-ship is he holy unto the LORD.

9. And if the dead (person) were (or had) died unawares suddenly by him, that he should have defiled the head of his Nazariteship: [See above, on v. 7.] then shall he shave his head, [viz. close to the skin with a razor] on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day shall he shave it. [so long was he that had touched a dead body to be held unclean: See Levit. 15. 13. Compare below, chapter 12. V. 14.]

10. And on the eighth day shall he bring two Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons, [Hebr. Sons of Doves] unto the Priest, to the door of the Tent of the Congregation.

11. The Priest now shall prepare one for a sin offering , and one for a burnt-offering, and shall make expiation for him, from that which he sinned on [Or by, at, about] the dead body: [Hebr. The Soul. Understand this sinning here, of the Ceremonial uncleanness, which he had contracted, by being touched of a dead body, or having been near it, though against his will and knowledge] thus shall he hallow, [See Levit. 8. On. 30.] his head on that day.

12. After that shall he separate the days of his Nazarite-ship unto the LORD, A new abstaining and refraining himself from those things mentioned above, v. 3. 4, 5, 6, 7. Beginning his Nazarite-ship again, as if there had been nothing done before; to continue in it for so many days, as he had vowed at the first] and shall bring a Lamb of one year [Heb. a son of his year] for a guilt offering: and the former days shall fall, [i.e. be lost and vain, and come not into the account of the days that were vowed] because his Nazarite-ship was defiled:

13. And this is the Law of the Nazarite: [i.e. of the offering of the Nazarite] On that day, when the days of his Nazarite-ship shall be fulfilled, shall he bring this [offering namely, mentioned in the following 14. And 15. Verses] to the door of the Tent of the congregation.

14. He then shall offer for his sacrifice unto the LORD, a perfect lamb of one year. [Hebr. A lamb, a son of his year] for a burnt-offering, and a perfect Ewe-lamb of one year; [Heb. an Ewe-lamb, a daughter of her year] for a sin-offering, and a perfect Ram for a thank-offering.

15. And a basket of unleavened (Cakes) Cakes of meal-flower, mixed with oil and unleavened Wafers stricken with oil: together with their meat-offering, and their drink offering. [Meat-offerings and drink-offerings, are thus distinguished. The former was of dry things, the latter of moist of the meat-offerings, see Levit. 2. On verse 1. And of the drink-offerings, Levit. 23. On verse 37. And of both distinctly named, as here Joel 1. V. 9. 13.]

16. And the Priest shall bring [i.e. offer] it before the face of the LORD; and shall prepare his sin-offering and his burnt-offering.

17. He shall likewise prepare the Ram for a thank-offering to the LORD, with the basket of the unleavened (Cakes) and the Priest shall prepare his meat-offering, and his drink offering. [Compare Genesis 35. The Annot. On v. 14.]

18. Then shall the Nazarite shave the head of his Nazarite-ship [See above on v.9.] at the door of the Tent of the Congregation; and he shall take the hair of his Nazarite-ship, and he shall lay it upon the fire, that is under the thank-offering.

19. After that shall the Priest take a boiled shoulder of the Ram, and an unleavened wafer; and he shall lay it upon the hands of the Nazarite, after that he hath shaved off his Nazarite-ship. [i.e. the hair which was grown in his head, during his Nazarite-ship.]

20. And the Priest shall wave the same for a wave-offering, [How the wave-offering is to be distinguished from the heave-offering. See Levit. 7. On v. 30.] before the face of the LORD; it is a holy thing for the Priest; with the breast of the wave-offering, and with the shoulder (or leg) of the heave-offering: and after that, that Nazarite shall drink wine.

21. That is the Law of the Nazarite, that shall have vowed his sacrifice unto the LORD, for his Nazarite-ship, besides what his hand shall get: [i.e. except that, which over and above the aforesaid sacrifice, he shall be willing of his own accord, to vow and offer according to his means and ability. More he was allowed to do, but not less; the sacrifice prescribed in this Law, being enjoined the poor as well as the rich] according to his vow, which he shall have vowed, so shall he do, according to the Law of the Nazarite-ship; [others, above, beyond, besides]

22. And the LORD spoke unto Moseh saying:

23. Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying: Thus shall ye bless the children of Israel, [viz. as Priests and Ministers of God in the general Congregation, wish all the Congregation all prosperity, happiness and salvation from God] saying unto them:

24. The LORD bless you, [See Genesis 12. On v. 2.] and keep you.

25. The LORD cause his face to shine over you. [The face of God doth signify his presence and providence, either to bless or to punish; of the face punishing or avenging, see Levitt. 17. 10. Psalms 34:17. And 51. 11. Of the face of favour and bliss, the Text here speaketh; as also, 2 Chronicles, 30. 3. Psalms 13:2. Etc. Now God is said to let his face to shine, when he showeth forth and exhibiteth his grace and bliss, and benefits actually, Psalms 31:17. Item, 80. 4., 8. 20. And 119. 135. Daniel 9:17.] and be gracious unto you.

26. The LORD lift up his face over you, [i.e. let the eyes of his gracious Providence continually be over you, to protect your coming and going forth, for your good, which God doth not, when he is said to hide or turn away his face, Deuteronomy 32:2. Ezech. 7. 22.] and give you peace. [See Gen. 37. On v. 14. Heb. set, i.e. fit and dispose, or bestow peace upon you.]

27. Thus shall they lay my Name upon the children of Israel; [This was performed, partly with calling upon the Name of God, and partly, with stretching forth their hands over the Congregation, as if they were ready forthwith actually to impart and bestow the blessing of the LORD, which they prayed for, upon the whole Congregation, in God’s stead] and I will bless them.