Chapter Six

The vow of a Nazirite. — The formula of priestly blessing.

Numbers 6:1. And the Lord said to Moses, saying: Numbers 6:2. Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them: If either men or women make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate themselves to the Lord, Nazirite vow — a kind of voluntary ascetic practice undertaken with a high moral purpose: one who commits to this practice “vows with a vow, so that they be cleansed with cleanness to the Lord” (Num 6:2 according to the Slavic translation). The commandment to keep oneself from defilement of physical impurity (and at the same time, of course, also spiritual) is binding on a Nazirite in heightened degree. For the sake of maintaining constant mental clarity and spiritual equilibrium, and also to avoid self-created temptations to sin, a Nazirite was obligated to abstain from the use of intoxicating beverages. The hair on the head of a Nazirite, as a symbol of moral strength and constant growth and progress in virtue, was not to be cut. The Nazirite vow could be for life or for a limited time. In case of involuntary defilement of the Nazirite by a forbidden thing before the end of the vow, a special ritual of purification was performed (Num 6 9–12), after which the fulfillment of the practice began again, “because his head of the vow became defiled.” The successful completion of the Nazirite vow was also marked by a special rite (Num 6:13-21).

Numbers 6:9. But if someone dies very suddenly beside the Nazirite, defiling the consecrated head, then they shall shave their head on the day of their cleansing; on the seventh day they shall shave it. “On the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day.” In Num 19:11 we read: “Whoever touches the corpse of any human being shall be unclean for seven days.”

Numbers 6:10. and on the eighth day they shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Numbers 6:11. and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for them for having sinned by reason of the corpse. So they shall consecrate the head that same day. Numbers 6:12. And they shall rededicate themselves to the Lord for their consecration, and bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt offering; but the former time shall be void, because their consecration was defiled. Compare Lev 5:2.

Numbers 6:13. This is the law of the Nazirite: When the period of their consecration has been completed, they shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Numbers 6:14. and they shall offer their gift to the Lord, one male lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as an offering of well-being. Numbers 6:15. and a basket of unleavened bread made of fine flour with oil mixed in, and unleavened cakes spread with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings; Compare Lev 1:3.

Numbers 6:22. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Numbers 6:23. Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: Numbers 6:24. May the Lord bless you and keep you! Numbers 6:25. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you! Numbers 6:26. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace! Numbers 6:27. So shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel, and I [the Lord] will bless them. Jewish tradition says that this formula of blessing was pronounced daily, at the conclusion of religious services. It continues to be used to this day in the ritual of Jewish synagogal worship.