Numbers 6:13-21

The Offerings Required at the Termination of the Nazirite Vow. The most distinctive feature of the concluding ritual was the shaving of the hair (cf. Acts 18:18) and the burning of it in the fire on the altar. This was probably at first of the nature of an offering, the primitive idea being that, as the hair was the seat of vitality ana energy, to present it to the Deity was to present to Him the best of one's self. Offerings of hair have been common in many religions, and were made on various occasions, particularly by girls just before marriage, and by mourners for the dead (see Pausanias, Description of Greece, i. 43, ii. 32; Æ sch., Cho. 6; Hom. Il. xxiii. 141). Of the sacrifice offered by the Nazirite a larger share than ordinary fell to the priest; for of the ram of the peace offering, in addition to the usual perquisites (Leviticus 7:34), he received also the shoulder.

Numbers 6:13. shall be brought: this is inappropriate, and the text is probably in some disorder.

Numbers 6:15. their meal offering and their drink offerings: see Numbers 15:4 f.

Numbers 6:20. heave thigh: better, thigh of the contribution.

Numbers 6:21. beside that which he is able to get: i.e. besides that which his means shall allow. The sacrifices explicitly prescribed are the minimum, but they are not to exclude others, if the offerer can afford them.