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Numbers 6

Numbers 6 discusses the Nazarite vow, a special dedication made by individuals to set themselves apart for the Lord. This vow included specific restrictions regarding contact with the dead, consumption of wine or strong drink, and not cutting one's hair. The chapter also includes the priestly blessing, a well-known benediction. This chapter reveals God's desire for holiness and dedication in His people, as well as the importance of God's blessing on His people.

Numbers 6:1-3 (NKJV):

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord,
3 he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins.’”

The Nazarite vow was a voluntary act of dedication to the Lord, signifying a deeper spiritual commitment. It applied to both men and women, reflecting the inclusive nature of this act of devotion. The restrictions from wine, strong drink, and any grape products symbolized self-denial, teaching the importance of abstaining from worldly indulgence to remain spiritually focused and set apart for God's service.

Numbers 6:4-5 (NKJV):

4 "All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin.
5 All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."

This vow extended to total abstinence from anything related to the grapevine, including the smallest parts. Additionally, the growing of hair without cutting it was a visible sign of the person's vow and commitment to holiness. The outward appearance of uncut hair symbolized an inward spiritual dedication, highlighting the sacredness of the vow.

Numbers 6:6-8 (NKJV):

6 "All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body.
7 He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.
8 All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the Lord."

Avoiding contact with the dead was crucial for the Nazarite because death symbolized impurity. Even the death of close relatives could not break the vow, underscoring the seriousness of this commitment. The vow required an absolute focus on spiritual purity, and the Nazarite's separation was seen as being holy and consecrated entirely to God.

Numbers 6:9-12 (NKJV):

9 "And if anyone dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.
10 Then on the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting;
11 and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned in regard to the corpse. And he shall sanctify his head that same day.
12 He shall consecrate to the Lord the days of his separation, and bring a male lamb in its first year as a trespass offering; but the former days shall be lost, because his separation was defiled."

In cases where the vow was accidentally broken through contact with death, specific steps for purification were outlined. Shaving the head represented a restart of the vow, and offerings were required for atonement. The necessity of atonement for unintentional defilement highlights the importance of purity before God and the process of restoring one's commitment.

Numbers 6:13-15 (NKJV):

13 "Now this is the law of the Nazirite: When the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
14 And he shall present his offering to the Lord: one male lamb in its first year without blemish as a burnt offering, one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish as a sin offering, one ram without blemish as a peace offering,
15 a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and their grain offering with their drink offerings."

At the completion of the vow, the Nazarite presented offerings, including burnt, sin, and peace offerings. These sacrifices symbolized the individual’s total dedication to God, addressing both sin and the desire for peace with God. The unleavened bread signified purity and a clean offering, emphasizing the importance of the vow in maintaining a holy relationship with God.

Numbers 6:16-18 (NKJV):

16 "Then the priest shall bring them before the Lord and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering;
17 and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall also offer its grain offering and its drink offering.
18 Then the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offering."

The priest performed the ritual offerings, and the Nazarite completed the vow by shaving his head and burning the hair in the fire. The act of burning the hair symbolized the full offering of oneself to God, marking the end of the Nazarite's period of dedication. It was a sign of completion, showing that the individual’s devotion was fully given to God.

Numbers 6:19-21 (NKJV):

19 "And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them upon the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair.
20 And the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the Lord; they are holy for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering. After that the Nazirite may drink wine."
21 "This is the law of the Nazirite who vows to the Lord the offering for his separation, and besides that, whatever else his hand is able to provide; according to the vow which he takes, so he must do according to the law of his separation."

After completing the ritual, the Nazarite could return to normal life, including drinking wine. The offerings represented a conclusion to the vow, and the priest's wave offering acknowledged that the period of special dedication was over. The law of the Nazarite allowed for individual devotion beyond the requirements, highlighting personal commitment and the flexibility to offer more based on one's ability.

Numbers 6:22-27 (NKJV):

22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 "The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."’
27 "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

This priestly blessing was a divine declaration of God's favor upon His people. It invoked God’s protection, grace, and peace, and it assured the Israelites that God's presence was with them. This benediction became a powerful reminder of God's commitment to bless, protect, and provide for His chosen people. The repetition of "the Lord" emphasized God's active role in their lives.

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