American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 6
1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves to the LORD:
Reference
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.
Reference
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.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 6:5
5
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come on his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Reference
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 on his head.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 9:6
8
All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.
9
And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he has 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.
Reference
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:
Reference
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.
12
And he shall consecrate to 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.
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 5:6
13
And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Reference
Temple
Acts 21:26
14
And he shall offer his offering to 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,
Reference
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.
Reference
16
And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:
17
And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.
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.
Reference
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 on the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:
Reference
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.
Reference
21
This is the law of the Nazarite who has vowed, and of his offering to 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.
22
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
23
Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,
Reference
Blessing
1 Chronicles 23:13
Deuteronomy 21:5
Hebrews 7:1
Genesis 47:7
Genesis 48:20
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 13:14
2 John 1:3
24
The LORD bless you, and keep you:
Reference
Blessing
Psalm 134:3
Ruth 2:4
Parallel theme
Philippians 4:7
Jude 1:24
John 17:11
Psalm 91:11
Psalm 17:8
1 Samuel 2:9
References Lord
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Isaiah 42:6
25
The LORD make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you:
Reference
Grace
Psalm 67:1
Exodus 33:19
Malachi 1:9
Genesis 43:29
John 1:17
Parallel theme
Psalm 119:135
Psalm 31:16
Psalm 80:7
References Lord
Psalm 80:19
Daniel 9:17
26
The LORD lift up his countenance on you, and give you peace.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 2:28
Psalm 42:5
Peace
Psalm 29:11
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Romans 15:13
John 16:33
Isaiah 26:3
Romans 15:33
John 20:21
References Lord
Psalm 4:6
Summary of Numbers 6
Numbers chapter 6 speaks about the Nazirite vow, the requirements for those who had vowed to separate themselves to the Lord, and ends with a most familiar blessing from the priests. It ties together the themes of a personal choice to dedicate oneself to the Lord, separation as a result of such a choice, responsibility for breaking vows and God's desire to bless His people.
The chapter begins with God instructing Moses concerning the Nazirite vow. Those who made this vow dedicated themselves to the Lord in a unique way showing their willingness to separate from some of the common experiences of life. A nazirite did not become a priest necessarily, nor was the vow confined only to one family or tribe. Anyone making the vow subjected himself or herself to a period of separation and dedication to the Lord.
The nazirite was forbidden to drink wine or any other liquor made from grapes. They were not allowed to eat wine vinegar or strong drink or fresh grapes or dried grapes or anything prepared from the vine. The limitation applied to the nazirite during the entire period of dedication.
The nazirite was also forbidden to cut his head hair, from the beginning of the period of dedication until its completion, a period of time in which they were to let their head hair grow. This outward expression indicated the special vow of separation to the Lord.
There was a further restriction that a nazirite was not permitted to go near a dead body. Even for those most dear to them, their father, mother, brother or sister, they did not stop their separation to the Lord, in fact, they were doubly separated to the Lord because of the time spent in the vow of separation that they had already undertaken.
If by any chance a nazirite was made unclean beside a dead person and was not aware of it, when he or she learned the fact, they were to shave the head on the seventh day and bring offerings to the priests on the eighth day. They brought a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, and another pigeon or a turtledove as a burnt offering to the Lord. Further, they brought a lamb as a trespass offering to the Lord. The previous dedication did not count because of the unexpected uncleanness and the person began their period of dedication from this point.
The next set of instructions in the chapter concern what was to be done when the period of dedication was completed. The nazirite was brought to the door of the tabernacle where they were to bring certain offerings to the Lord, namely, a male lamb for a burnt offering and a female lamb for a sin offering. A ram was also to be brought for a peace offering, in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings, drink offerings and various sacrifices.
The priest then brought the offerings before the Lord including the nazirite's hair, which had grown long during the period of separation, the hair was placed upon the sacrifice of peace offering. The person then completed the special period of dedication and could resume their normal way of life.
The nazirite vow, while it may seem like an unusual practice, highlights the possibility of dedicating oneself to the Lord in unique ways. The person making the vow deliberately chose to dedicate themselves to the Lord. They abstained from the pleasures normally available to persons of that day and allowed their head hair to grow as a sign of their separation to the Lord. The choice was not made lightly; such a choice affected their daily life, what they could eat or drink and the contacts they could have with others. They were particularly forbidden to touch a dead body of any kind.
The chapter moves on to consider the instructions for Aaron and his sons concerning how they were to bless the children of Israel. This is perhaps one of the most familiar blessings found in the Old Testament. The Lord instructed the priests to bless His people with a particular blessing.
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee." The Lord was to bless His people and have compassion upon them. "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee." The Lord was to show His favor upon His people. "The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Finally, the Lord was to look with favor upon His people and grant them peace.
The Lord told Moses that Aaron and his sons were to put His name upon upon the children of Israel. It was not the priests who gave the blessings, rather it was the Lord God Himself who had promised to bless His people.
This closing message on blessings is most apt since it follows directly from the discussion of the nazirite vow. The vow concerned the separation of one person to the Lord, whereas the blessing from the priests is a message concerning the Lord's care for His people. The chapter speaks of the choice that the children of Israel had concerning how they lived their lives and dedicated themselves to the Lord. It also speaks of how the Lord cared for them, even when they did not fulfill their obligations to Him. They were to remember always that they belonged to Him, and He would care for them and protect them and show them His favor and peace.
Numbers chapter 6 draws together the themes of dedication and protection. The children of Israel could choose to dedicate themselves to the Lord through vows similar to that of the nazirites. The Lord God was faithful to His people no matter what choices they made. The final section closes the chapter with a reminder that no matter what their choices concerning themselves and their lives, they were in the hands of God. They could count upon His protection, favor, peace and love.
The chapter begins with God instructing Moses concerning the Nazirite vow. Those who made this vow dedicated themselves to the Lord in a unique way showing their willingness to separate from some of the common experiences of life. A nazirite did not become a priest necessarily, nor was the vow confined only to one family or tribe. Anyone making the vow subjected himself or herself to a period of separation and dedication to the Lord.
The nazirite was forbidden to drink wine or any other liquor made from grapes. They were not allowed to eat wine vinegar or strong drink or fresh grapes or dried grapes or anything prepared from the vine. The limitation applied to the nazirite during the entire period of dedication.
The nazirite was also forbidden to cut his head hair, from the beginning of the period of dedication until its completion, a period of time in which they were to let their head hair grow. This outward expression indicated the special vow of separation to the Lord.
There was a further restriction that a nazirite was not permitted to go near a dead body. Even for those most dear to them, their father, mother, brother or sister, they did not stop their separation to the Lord, in fact, they were doubly separated to the Lord because of the time spent in the vow of separation that they had already undertaken.
If by any chance a nazirite was made unclean beside a dead person and was not aware of it, when he or she learned the fact, they were to shave the head on the seventh day and bring offerings to the priests on the eighth day. They brought a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, and another pigeon or a turtledove as a burnt offering to the Lord. Further, they brought a lamb as a trespass offering to the Lord. The previous dedication did not count because of the unexpected uncleanness and the person began their period of dedication from this point.
The next set of instructions in the chapter concern what was to be done when the period of dedication was completed. The nazirite was brought to the door of the tabernacle where they were to bring certain offerings to the Lord, namely, a male lamb for a burnt offering and a female lamb for a sin offering. A ram was also to be brought for a peace offering, in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings, drink offerings and various sacrifices.
The priest then brought the offerings before the Lord including the nazirite's hair, which had grown long during the period of separation, the hair was placed upon the sacrifice of peace offering. The person then completed the special period of dedication and could resume their normal way of life.
The nazirite vow, while it may seem like an unusual practice, highlights the possibility of dedicating oneself to the Lord in unique ways. The person making the vow deliberately chose to dedicate themselves to the Lord. They abstained from the pleasures normally available to persons of that day and allowed their head hair to grow as a sign of their separation to the Lord. The choice was not made lightly; such a choice affected their daily life, what they could eat or drink and the contacts they could have with others. They were particularly forbidden to touch a dead body of any kind.
The chapter moves on to consider the instructions for Aaron and his sons concerning how they were to bless the children of Israel. This is perhaps one of the most familiar blessings found in the Old Testament. The Lord instructed the priests to bless His people with a particular blessing.
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee." The Lord was to bless His people and have compassion upon them. "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee." The Lord was to show His favor upon His people. "The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Finally, the Lord was to look with favor upon His people and grant them peace.
The Lord told Moses that Aaron and his sons were to put His name upon upon the children of Israel. It was not the priests who gave the blessings, rather it was the Lord God Himself who had promised to bless His people.
This closing message on blessings is most apt since it follows directly from the discussion of the nazirite vow. The vow concerned the separation of one person to the Lord, whereas the blessing from the priests is a message concerning the Lord's care for His people. The chapter speaks of the choice that the children of Israel had concerning how they lived their lives and dedicated themselves to the Lord. It also speaks of how the Lord cared for them, even when they did not fulfill their obligations to Him. They were to remember always that they belonged to Him, and He would care for them and protect them and show them His favor and peace.
Numbers chapter 6 draws together the themes of dedication and protection. The children of Israel could choose to dedicate themselves to the Lord through vows similar to that of the nazirites. The Lord God was faithful to His people no matter what choices they made. The final section closes the chapter with a reminder that no matter what their choices concerning themselves and their lives, they were in the hands of God. They could count upon His protection, favor, peace and love.