Numbers 6:1-27 NIV
The Nazirite
1The LORD Said To Moses,
2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them:
‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication To The LORD as a Nazirite, 3they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them:
‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication To The LORD as a Nazirite, 3they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
5“ ‘During
the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head.
They must be holy until the period of their dedication To The LORD is over; they must let their hair grow
long.
6“ ‘Throughout
the period of their dedication To The LORD, the
Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7Even if
their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make
themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their
dedication To GOD is on their head. 8Throughout
the period of their dedication, they are consecrated To The LORD.
9“ ‘If
someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that
symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the
day of their cleansing. 10Then on
the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at
the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11The
priest is to offer one as a sin offeringa and the other as a burnt offering to make
atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the
dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12They
must rededicate themselves To The LORD for the same period of dedication and
must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not
count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.
13“ ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. 14There they are to present their offerings To The LORD: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering,
15together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.
16“ ‘The
priest is to present all these Before The LORD and make the sin offering and the
burnt offering.17He is
to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a
fellowship offering To The LORD,
together with its grain offering and drink offering.
18“ ‘Then
at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair
that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the
fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
19“ ‘After
the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the
priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick
loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast. 20The
priest shall then wave these Before The LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and
belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh
that was presented.
After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21“ ‘This
is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings To The LORD in accordance with their dedication,
in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they
have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’ ”
The Priestly Blessing
22The LORD Said To Moses,
23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
24“ ‘ “The LORD Bless you
And Keep you;
25The LORD Make His Face Shine On you
And Be Gracious To you;
26The LORD Turn His Face Toward you
And Give you peace.” ’
27“So
they will put My Name on the Israelites, and I WILL Bless them.”
The Nazirite Vow
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 willfully broke their vow of
being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profane trifling With Jehovah
their GOD; but those were to be relieved who did not sin willfully.
Such a 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, and be
spiritually-minded, and devoted To GOD's service, and desirous to be an example
all around us.
The priests were solemnly
to bless the people in the Name of JEHOVAH. To be under the almighty protection
of GOD our SAVIOR; to enjoy His Favor 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.
“JEHOVAH Bless you
And Keep
you;
JEHOVAH Make His
Face Shine On you
And Be Gracious To you;
JEHOVAH Turn His
Face Toward you
And Give
you peace.”
Amen.
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