Numbers6

Numbers chapter 6 details the law of the Nazarite vow, a special consecration to the Lord. Individuals taking this vow were required to abstain from wine and all products of the vine, avoid cutting their hair, and not come near any dead body. Upon completion, specific offerings were made, and the Nazarite's hair was shaved and burned. The chapter concludes with the Aaronic blessing, a formula for priests to bless the children of Israel.

The Law of the Nazirite Vow

1
ADONAI said to Moshe,
2
"Tell the people of Isra'el, 'When either a man or a woman makes a special kind of vow, the vow of a nazir, consecrating himself to ADONAI; ​
3
he is to abstain from wine and other intoxicating liquor, he is not to drink vinegar from either source, he is not to drink grape juice, and he is not to eat grapes or raisins. ​
4
As long as he remains a nazir he is to eat nothing derived from the grapevine, not even the grape-skins or the seeds.
5
"'Throughout the period of his vow as a nazir, he is not to shave his head. Until the end of the time for which he has consecrated himself to ADONAI he is to be holy: he is to let the hair on his head grow long. ​
6
"'Throughout the period for which he has consecrated himself to ADONAI, he is not to approach a corpse. ​
7
He is not to make himself unclean for his father, mother, brother or sister when they die, since his consecration to God is on his head. ​
8
Throughout the time of his being a nazir he is holy for ADONAI.

Defilement and Restoration

9
"'If someone next to him dies very suddenly, so that he defiles his consecrated head, then he is to shave his head on the day of his purification; he is to shave it on the seventh day. ​
10
On the eighth day he is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the cohen at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
11
The cohen is to prepare one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering and thus make atonement for him, inasmuch as he sinned because of the dead person. That same day he is to re-consecrate his head; ​
12
he is to consecrate to ADONAI the full period of his being a nazir by bringing a male lamb in its first year as a guilt offering. The previous days will not be counted, because his consecration became defiled. ​

Concluding the Nazirite Vow

13
"'This is the law for the nazir when his period of consecration is over: he is to be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, ​
14
where he will present his offering to ADONAI - one male lamb in its first year without defect as a burnt offering, one female lamb in its first year without defect as a sin offering, one ram without defect as peace offerings, ​
15
a basket of matzah, loaves made of fine flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers spread with olive oil, their grain offering and their drink offerings.
16
The cohen is to bring them before ADONAI, offer his sin offering, his burnt offering,
17
and his ram as a sacrifice of peace offerings to ADONAI, with the basket of matzah. The cohen will also offer the grain offering and drink offering that go with the peace offering.
18
The nazir will shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair removed from his consecrated head and put it on the fire under the sacrifice of peace offerings. ​
19
When the ram has been boiled, the cohen is to take its shoulder, one loaf of matzah from the basket and one unleavened wafer, and place them in the hands of the nazir, after he has shaved his consecrated head.
20
The cohen is to wave them as a wave offering before ADONAI; this is set aside for the cohen, along with the breast for waving and the raised-up thigh. Following that, the nazir may drink wine. ​
21
"'This is the law for the nazir who makes a vow and for his offering to ADONAI for his being a nazir - in addition to anything more for which he has sufficient means. In keeping with whatever vow he makes, he must do it according to the law for the nazir.'"

The Aaronic Priestly Blessing

22
ADONAI said to Moshe, ​
23
"Speak to Aharon and his sons, and tell them that this is how you are to bless the people of Isra'el: you are to say to them,
24
'Y'varekh'kha ADONAI v'yishmerekha. [May ADONAI bless you and keep you.] ​
25
Ya'er ADONAI panav eleikha vichunekka. [May ADONAI make his face shine on you and show you his favor.] ​
26
Yissa ADONAI panav eleikha v'yasem l'kha shalom. [May ADONAI lift up his face toward you and give you peace.]' ​
27
"In this way they are to put my name on the people of Isra'el, so that I will bless them." ​

Study Notes for Numbers 6

Verse 2

The term 'Nazarite' (Heb. *nazir*) means 'separated' or 'consecrated.' Unlike the hereditary priesthood, this vow was typically voluntary and temporary, symbolizing intense, personal dedication to the LORD.

Verse 3

The requirement to abstain entirely from all grape products (wine, vinegar, grapes) ensured a radical separation from common celebration and symbolized self-denial and focus on holiness.

Verse 5

The uncut hair was the visible physical sign of the Nazirite’s consecration (*nezer*). This physical manifestation of the vow paralleled the high priest's requirement not to cut his hair, emphasizing the Nazirite's temporary priestly status.

Verse 6

The Nazirite had to avoid all contact with the dead, a stringent requirement mirroring the highest standard of cultic purity demanded of the high priest, signifying the holiness of the vow.

Verse 7

Even immediate family members could not override the sanctity of the vow. The consecration of God upon his head took precedence over common duties of mourning.

Verse 9

This section addresses accidental defilement. God provides a path for purification and restoration, demonstrating that the vow, though broken unintentionally, could be resumed rather than permanently cancelled.

Verse 11

The required sin offering and burnt offering indicate that defilement, even accidental, required purification and atonement before the Nazirite could resume their consecrated status.

Verse 12

If defiled, the previous days were 'lost,' meaning the Nazirite had to restart the entire period of separation after completing the purification ritual, emphasizing the seriousness of maintaining purity.

Verse 13

This transition marks the end of the separation period, where the Nazirite publicly fulfills the vow and returns to ordinary status by presenting specific offerings at the Tabernacle door.

Verse 14

The required offerings covered dedication (burnt), purification (sin), and fellowship (peace), comprehensively concluding the period of special holiness.

Verse 18

Shaving the head symbolized the transfer of the signs of consecration (the hair) to the sanctuary fire. This public act formally ended the separation.

Verse 20

After the concluding ritual, the Nazirite was permitted to drink wine again, signifying the successful completion and termination of the temporary heightened status of holiness.

Verse 22

This sudden thematic shift introduces the formal, trifold blessing mandated by God for the priests to pronounce over the people, ensuring divine favor upon the community.

Verse 24

The first line focuses on material provision and divine protection ('keep thee'), essential for Israel's journey and survival in the wilderness.

Verse 25

The second line uses the metaphor of God's 'face shining' to request divine favor, acceptance, and grace, implying a benevolent and intimate relationship.

Verse 26

The final line requests *shalom* (wholeness, well-being, peace)—the ultimate blessing in ancient Israel—climaxing the blessing formula.

Verse 27

By pronouncing God's name (YHWH) upon the people, the priests acted as authorized representatives, but the actual power and resulting blessing came directly from God ('I will bless them').

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