_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ The law of the Nazarites. What they were to abstain from, Numbers 6:1. How to be cleansed from casual uncleanness, Numbers 6:9. How to be discharged from their vow, Numbers 6:13. The form of blessing the people, Numbers 6:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
The foregoing law about women, suspected of adultery, is here followed by another relating to the conduct of those who, by a singular course of religious devotion, were desirous to prevent all such sins; namely, by making vows of uncommon purity, and devoting themselves to God in an extraordinary ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man or woman_ For both sexes might make this vow, if they were free and at their own disposal: otherwise their parents or husbands could disannul the vow. _A vow of a Nazarite_ Whereby they sequestered themselves from worldly employments and enjoyments, that they might entirely consecrate themselve... [ Continue Reading ]
_Separate himself from wine_ The first is, that every person so devoted should, during the whole time of his vow, taste no wine, nor any thing that had wine in it, nor any inflammatory liquors, which are incitements to lust; that so, by perfect temperance, his mind might be in a fit disposition for... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the days of his separation_ Some were perpetual _Nazarites_, being peculiarly devoted to God from the womb, as Samson and John the Baptist. But Moses here speaks of such as made themselves Nazarites only for a time, which might be longer or shorter, as they thought fit to appoint.... [ Continue Reading ]
_No razor shall come upon his head_ Nor scissors, or other instrument, to cut off any part of his hair. This is the second rule he was to observe, and appointed, partly as a sign of his mortification to worldly delights and outward beauty; partly as a testimony of that purity which he professed, bec... [ Continue Reading ]
Numbers 6:6. _He shall come at no dead body_ This was the third thing enjoined. For defilement by the dead made men unclean seven days; so that they might not approach the place of divine worship, Numbers 19:11. Therefore, that the Nazarites might be always fit to attend upon the service of God, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall shave his head_ Because his whole body, and especially his hair, was defiled by such an accident, which was to be imputed either to his own heedlessness, or to God's providence so ordering the matter; possibly for the punishment of his other sins, or for the quickening him to more purity a... [ Continue Reading ]
_A sin-offering_ Because such a pollution was, though not his sin, yet the chastisement of his sin. _He sinned by the dead_ That is, contracted a ceremonial uncleanness, which is called sinning, because it was a type of sin, and a violation of a law, though through ignorance and inadvertency. _Hallo... [ Continue Reading ]
_A sin-offering_ Whereby he confessed his miscarriages, notwithstanding the strictness of his vow, and all the diligence which he could use, and consequently acknowledged his need of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, the true Nazarite. _For peace-offerings_ For thankfulness to God, who had given him... [ Continue Reading ]
_At the door of the tabernacle_ Publicly, that it might be known that his vow was ended; and therefore he was at liberty as to those things from which he had restrained himself for a season, otherwise some might have taken offence at his use of his liberty. _The fire_ Upon which the flesh of the pea... [ Continue Reading ]
_The shoulder_ The left shoulder, as it appears from Numbers 6:20, where this is joined with the heave-shoulder, which was the right shoulder, and which was the priests' due in all sacrifices, (Leviticus 7:32,) and in this also. But here the other shoulder was added to it, as a special token of than... [ Continue Reading ]
_May drink wine_ And return to his former manner of living. _That his hand shall get_ Besides what he shall voluntarily give according to his ability.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons_ Among other good offices which the priests were appointed to perform, one was to _bless in the name of the Lord, Deuteronomy 21:5_. Hereby God put an honour upon them, for _the less is blessed of the better, Hebrews 7:7_; and hereby he gave great comfort and sati... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord bless thee_ Bestow upon you all manner of blessings, temporal and spiritual. _Keep thee_ That is, continue his blessings to thee, and preserve thee in and to the use of them; keep thee from sin, and its bitter effects. _Shine upon thee_ Alluding to the shining of the sun upon the earth, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Put my name_ Shall call them by my name, shall recommend them to me as my own people, and bless them, and pray unto me for them as such; which is a powerful argument to prevail with God for them.... [ Continue Reading ]