Numbers 6 starts off talking about the Nazirites. The word Nazirite is a verb which used here denotes – doing something wonderful or extraordinary for the Lord, and is often spelled Nazarite. This word comes from the Hebrew word “Nazir” which means consecrated one, and “Nazar” which means to separate unto Jehovah. The Nazirites are not to be confused with the Nazarenes. The Nazarenes come from the town Nazareth. Nazareth as we know is the home town of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Jesus was known as Jesus of Nazareth and also Jesus of Galilee, Nazareth is a small city of Galilee. (See Matt 2:19-23) Side note .. John the Baptist was a Nazarite
The Nazirite
6 The 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, 3 they 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. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.
The Lord tells Moses to speak to the Israelites and ask them if any of them, whether male or female, if they want to make a special vow to dedicate (consecrate or separate) them selves to the Lord as a Nazirite. (Notice that women were included in this act of dedication)
The “vows” here referred to, were made for a specific period. At a later time, however, some were consecrated or set apart as Nazirites during the entire period of their lives, as in the case of Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. As part of this “vow” they must not eat or drink anything that comes from the grape vine, for as long as their vow lasts.
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.
During this entire period of their vow, no hair on their head was to be cut or shaved. It is thought that since the Israelites came out of Egypt, that God purposefully did things different than their old shaven Egyptian masters. It was also thought that the strength was in the hair, the uncut uncrossed locks of a Nazirite were like the mane of the male lion, a symbol of the fullness of his strength and life. Look at the great Samson whose strength was in his hair, and then left when his hair was cut.
6 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even 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.
Also during this entire period of dedication to the Lord, they must not go near a dead body, even if it is their own family, this will make them ceremonially unclean. This same injunction was also given to the priests (Lev 21:10-12). The untouched hair of the Nazirite was to him/her as the crown was to the high priests , the hair distinguished them apart from the regular peoples, so to loose ones hair was in appearance a shaming of sorts.
8 Throughout 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. 10 Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering 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. 12 They 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.
This is the third regulation and is mentioned particularly because it was the only one in which simple humanity or mere accident would unavoidably infringe upon the vow. If this happens, they would be unclean for seven days after which they must shave their head clean. The hair being their symbol of dedication which now has been polluted or defiled by death, must be cut off from further polluting or defiling other objects.
On the eighth day the priest is to offer two doves or pigeons, one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirine’s sin to the Lord. After the eighth day, he was now considered free from pollution, of sin and is now able to start his vow anew.
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. 14 There 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, 15 together 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. 17 He 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. 20 The 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.
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 ceremony at the completion of the vow consisted of three parts:
(1) The Nazirite brought a burnt-offering, sin-offering, and a basket of unleavened bread (Numbers 15:4-6), and the priest is to offer up the ram as a fellowship offering along with the grain and drink offering and offer them to the Lord (Numbers 6:13-17).
(2) He shaved his head, standing near the door of the Tent by the altar in the court, and threw the hair into the fire on the altar of the fellowship-offering (Numbers 6:18).
(3) After the Nazirites hair was shaved off, the priest then took the shoulder of the ram and part of the bread-offering, and gave a wave offering to the Lord. The shoulder and the bread, together with the breast and the thigh, which was also used as a wave offering was given to the priest. After this the Nazirite may drink wine. So is established the law of the Nazirite.
The Priestly Blessing
22 The Lord said to Moses, 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;
25
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26
the 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 final command to Moses was to have the priest bless the Israelites in the name of the Lord, declaring that they are His blessed, chosen people… To be under the Almighty protection of God, and to enjoy the smile, peace, grace and favor from God the Father. In this prayer, the word for Lord is Jehovah, and is used three times; representing the Son’s blessings, the Father’s love and the Holy Spirit’s communion of peace.
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