Read Numbers 6 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
6:1-21 {p} The law of the Nazirite
6:22-23 {s} Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel
6:24 {s} YHVH bless you and keep you
6:25 {s} YHVH make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you
6:26 {s} YHVH lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace
6:27 {s} The priests put YHVH’s name upon Israel and He will bless them.
The subject matter of today’s reading is oddly placed–right in the middle of the consecration and dedication of the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the Levites (as we will see as we continue in Numbers). It is that oddity that makes it stand out to me. These are not just some more random commandments, but these particular commandments are here in the narrative of consecration and dedication on purpose.
The law of the Nazirite: a Nazirite is someone who makes a vow to YHVH, that he shall be holy to YHVH for a certain period of time. He dedicates himself to YHVH for a number of days. This is a voluntary and not a mandatory vow; it is something someone does who feels devotion and love for YHVH, and is trying to find a way to express it.
First, he separates himself to YHVH, and separates himself from wine or similar intoxicating drink (Num 6:2-3). Hmmmm … we have seen this before:
Then YHVH spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die.” Lev 10:8-11
The Teaching Tool of Common Theme shows us that a Nazirite is someone, not of the family of Aaron, who wishes they too can be in YHVH’s presence as the Levites and priests can. They can take the vow of a Nazirite, and dedicate themselves to YHVH, and separate themselves to YHVH just as Aaron and just as the Levites are separated to Him, and they shall be separate for the days of their vow. YHVH receives it as an act of worship, as a consecration to Him, just as Aaron and just as the Levites are consecrated to Him.
That is why this is here in the middle of the narrative of dedication and consecration of the tabernacle and the Levites.
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