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6:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
6:4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
6:5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
6:6 All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
6:7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.
6:8 All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
6:9 And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
6:10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 6:11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
6:12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
6:13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 6:14 And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, 6:15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
6:16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: 6:17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.
6:18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
6:19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: 6:20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.
6:21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
6:22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6:23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 6:25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 6:26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
6:27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.


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King James Bible:Numbers
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 6

Overview:
The Law concerning the Nazarites. (1-21) The form of blessing
the people. (22-27)

1-21 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 wilfully broke
their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another Day for
such profane trifling with the Lord their God; but those were to
be relieved who did not Sin wilfully. There is nothing in
Scripture that bears the least resemblance to the religious
orders of the Church of Rome, except these Nazarites. But Mark
the difference, or rather how completely opposed! The religious
of that Church are forbidden to marry; but No such restriction
is laid upon the Nazarites. They are commanded to abstain from
meats; but the Nazarites might eat any Food allowed other
Israelites. They are not generally forbidden Wine, not even On
their fasting days; but the Nazarites might not have Wine at any
time. Their vow is lasting, even to the End of their lives; the
Nazarites' vow was only for a limited time, at their own will;
and in certain cases not unless allowed By husbands or parents.
Such a thorough 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, moderate natural affections, be
spiritually-minded, and devoted to God's service, and desirous
to be an Example all around us.

22-27 The priests were solemnly to Bless the people in the name
of the Lord. To be under the almighty protection of God our
Saviour; to enjoy his favour 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. The name Jehovah is three
times repeated. The Jews think there is some Mystery; and we
know what it is, the New Testament having explained it. There we
are directed to expect the blessing from the Grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Love of the Father, and the Communion of the
Holy Ghost, 2Co 13:14; each of which Persons is Jehovah, and
yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord.

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