The law concerning Nazarites

The law concerning

Nazarites

 

581.                 That a Nazarite shall not drink wine, or anything mixed with wine which tastes like wine; and even if the wine or the mixture has turned sour, it is prohibited to him (Num. 6:3 from new or aged wine shall he abstain, and he shall not drink vinegar of wine or vinegar of aged wine) (This command teaches us that a nazarite shall not drink grape related product. Old wine is called intoxicant, because age causes wine to ferment and because alcoholic. However, all grape products are prohibited, alcoholic or not; other alcoholic beverages, however are permitted).

588.                 That he shall not eat fresh grapes (Num. 6:3 anything in which grapes have been steeped shall he not drink and fresh grapes shall he not eat) (This command teaches us that fresh grape must not be eaten by a Nazarites).

589.                 That he shall not eat dried grapes (raisins) (Num. 6:3 and dried grapes shall he not eat) (This command teaches us that even raisin a Nazarites cannot eat. Anything from the grape plant is off limits to a Nazarites).

590.                 That he shall not eat the kernels of the grapes (Num. 6:4 All the days of his abstinence, anything made from wine grapes, even the pips (seed) he shall not eat) (This command teaches us that a Nazarites cannot eat kernel or seed of the grapes).

591.                 That he shall not eat of the skins of the grapes (Num. 6:4 All the days of his abstinence, anything made from wine grapes, even the skin he shall not eat) (This command teaches us that a Nazarites cannot eat the skin of the grapes).

592.                 That the Nazarite shall permit his hair to grow (Num. 6:5 holy shall he be, the growth of hair on his head shall grow) (This command teaches us that hair represent the body’s insulation against the outside world, since it protects the skin from the elements. Therefore by letting his hair grows, the Nazir’s every act can be devoted to YAHWEH).

593.                 That the Nazarite shall not cut his hair (Num. 6:5 All the  days of his Nazirite vow, a razor shall not pas over his head; until the completion of the days that he will be a Nazirite vow for the sake of YAHWEH) (This command teaches us that the prohibition against trimming the hair helps one avoid thoughts of flaunting his physical beauty as hair symbolizes the body insulation against the outside world, so too must we insulate our selves against the lure of the world system, and we must never loses that insulation ever. When we make a Nazarite vow it helps us resist the things that so easily over come us. The minimum period of Nazism is thirty days, but a Nazirite who so desires may adopt a longer period of time).

594.                 That he shall not enter any covered structure where there is a dead body (Num. 6:6  All the days of his abstinence(vow) for the sake of El YAHWEH he shall not come near a dead person) (This command teaches us that those who are in a Nazarite vow shall not come near a dead body, been in the same covered space is also forbidden for the lack of fresh circulation of air).

595.                 That a Nazarite shall not defile himself for any dead person (by being in the presence of the corpse) (Num. 6:7 To his father or to his mother, to his brother or to his sister he shall not  contaminate himself to them upon their death, for the Crown of his Elohim is upon his head) (This command teaches us that as a Kohem Gadol, the Nazirite may not let anything interrupt the devotion he has accepted upon himself).

596.                 That the Nazarite shall shave his hair when he brings his offerings at the completion of the period of his Nazariteship, or within that period if he has become defiled (Num. 6:9 if a person should die near him with quick suddenness and contaminate his Nazirite head he shall shave his head on the day he becomes purified; on the seventh day shall he shave it) (This command teaches us that if the Nazirite become contaminated by a corpse during the Nazirism period, the days already counted are forfeited. The following sacrificial ritual is performed and a new term of Nazirism begins. With quick suddenness, this double expression indicates two possible events; The Nazirite was caught by surprise and become contaminated accidentally, or was careless and came into contact with a corpse unintentionally. However, the following ritual must be observe. He shall bring a sin-offering. Why does the Nazirite bring a sin-offering after a period of sanctity and devotion? Because it would have been fitting to continue the abstinence from worldly pleasure and extend the vow of Nazirism indefinitely. The sin-offering atones for his decision to return to temporal pursuits. The peace offering is for the rejoicing over the fulfillment of his vow).