A Nazirite

Numbers 6:1-21

1  Yahuwah 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 Yahuwah 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.  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 Yahuwah is over; they must let their locks grow long.  6  “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to Yahuwah, 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 Yahuwah is on their head.  8  Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to Yahuwah.  9  “‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolises 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 Yahuwah 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.  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 Yahuwah: 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 Yahuwah 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 Yahuwah, 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 symbolises 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 symbolises 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 fulfil the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”

The law concerning the Nazirites

The word Nazirite signifies separation.  Some were appointed of Yahuwah, before their birth, to be Nazirites 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 Yahuwah, 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, Yahuwah gives them rules.  They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes.  

Those who separate themselves to Yahuwah, must not gratify the desires of the body, but keep it under control.  Let all servants of Yahuwah 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 Nazirites were to eat nothing that came of the vine, this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin that borders upon it and leads to it, or there may be a temptation that ensnares.  They must not cut their hair.  They must neither cut their hair nor shave their beards, this was the mark of Samson being a Nazirite.  

This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and adornment of it.  Those who separate themselves to Yahuwah, must keep their consciences pure from dead works and not touch unclean things.  All those who wilfully broke their vow of being Nazirites, they must answer another day for such profane trifling with Yahuwah their God, but those were to be relieved who did not sin wilfully.  

There is nothing in Scriptures that bear the least resemblance to the religious orders of the Church of Rome, except these Nazirites.  But mark the difference, or rather how completely opposed!  The members of that church are forbidden to marry, which is not according to Yahuwah's word, as clearly stated at 1 Timothy 4:1-5, which was prophesied about and revealing the real source of the Church of Rome's demonic teachings.  No such restriction is laid upon the Nazirites by Yahuwah.  They are commanded to abstain from meats, but the Nazirites might eat any food allowed other Israelites.  They are not generally forbidden wine, not even on their fasting days, but the Nazirites might not have wine at any time.  Their vow is lasting, even to the end of their lives, the Nazirites' vow was only for a limited time, of their own will and in certain cases not unless allowed by husbands or parents.

Noting the difference there is between rules of man's invention and those directed in Scripture, Let us not forget that Yahushua is not only our Surety but also our example.  For his sake, we must renounce worldly pleasures, abstain from fleshly lusts, be separate from sinners, make open profession of our faith, moderate natural affections, be spiritually-minded and devoted to Yahuwah's service and desirous to be an example to all around us.