Reflections on Numbers 6

Numbers 06 (Contemporary English Version)

1. The LORD told Moses
   
2. to say to the people of Israel: If any of you want to dedicate yourself to me by vowing to become a Nazirite,
   
3. you must no longer drink any wine or beer or use any kind of vinegar. Don't drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins--
   
4. not even the seeds or skins.
   
5. Even the hair of a Nazirite is sacred to me, and as long as you are a Nazirite, you must never cut your hair.
   
6. During the time that you are a Nazirite, you must never go close to a dead body,
   
7. not even that of your father, mother, brother, or sister. That would make you unclean. Your hair is the sign that you are dedicated to me, so remain holy.
   
8. (SEE 6:7)
   
9. If someone suddenly dies near you, your hair is no longer sacred, and you must shave it seven days later during the ceremony to make you clean.
   
10. Then on the next day, bring two doves or two pigeons to the priest at the sacred tent.
    
11. He will offer one of the birds as a sacrifice for sin and the other as a sacrifice to please me. You will then be forgiven for being too near a dead body, and your hair will again become sacred.
    
12. But the dead body made you unacceptable, so you must make another vow to become a Nazirite and be dedicated once more. Finally, a year-old ram must be offered as the sacrifice to make things right.
    
13. When you have completed your promised time of being a Nazirite, go to the sacred tent
    
14. and offer three animals that have nothing wrong with them: a year-old ram as a sacrifice to please me, a year-old female lamb as a sacrifice for sin, and a full-grown ram as a sacrifice to ask my blessing.
    
15. Wine offerings and grain sacrifices must also be brought with these animals. Finally, you are to bring a basket of bread made with your finest flour and olive oil, but without yeast. Also bring some thin wafers brushed with oil.
    
16. The priest will take these gifts to my altar and offer them, so that I will be pleased and will forgive you.
    
17. Then he will sacrifice the ram and offer the wine, grain, and bread.
    
18. After that, you will stand at the entrance to the sacred tent, shave your head, and put the hair in the fire where the priest has offered the sacrifice to ask my blessing.
    
19. Once the meat from the ram's shoulder has been boiled, the priest will take it, along with one loaf of bread and one wafer brushed with oil, and give them to you.
    
20. You will hand them back to the priest, who will lift them up in dedication to me. Then he can eat the meat from the ram's shoulder, its choice ribs, and its hind leg, because this is his share of the sacrifice. After this, you will no longer be a Nazirite and will be free to drink wine.
    
21. These are the requirements for Nazirites. However, if you can afford to offer more, you must do so.
    
22. The LORD told Moses,
    
23. "When Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel, they must say:
    
24. I pray that the LORD will bless and protect you,
    
25. and that he will show you mercy and kindness.
    
26. May the LORD be good to you and give you peace."
    
27. Then the LORD said, "If Aaron and his sons ask me to bless the Israelites, I will give them my blessing."
    
    

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    Chapter 6 of Numbers describes a special vow known as the Nazirite vow. It was a voluntary vow a person could take for a specified period of time. The typical period was 30 days though it could last as long as 100 days, and in rare occasions for life. Examples of a lifetime Nazirite vow were Samuel, Samson, and John the Baptist. In all three of these examples the parents made the vow on behalf of their child. More typically the person made the vow for themselves.
    
    No reason or purpose for the vow is given other than to consecrate oneself to the LORD.  A person taking the Nazirite vow had three restrictions: they were not to eat or drink anything produced by the grapevine, they were not to cut their hair, and they could not go near a dead body.  This last restriction meant that even if a family member died the person was not to go near the body.  Should a person who was under the vow be standing or sitting near a person who suddenly died, they were defiled and must go through a purification ritual and begin anew the period of their vow. The time they had already spent in the vow was not counted.
    
    Another ritual was prescribed for when a Nazirite vow was completed. It involved a sin offering, a burnt offering, and a fellowship offering. In addition, the person's hair was cut and placed as an offering "on the fire under the fellowship sacrifice." (6:18)
    
    The chapter concludes with a blessing the priests were to say on behalf of the people. It is a blessing frequently used as a benediction in Christian religious services:  "The LORD bless you and protect you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace."