Numbers-Chapter-6
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the
following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Numbers Chapter 6 introduces a unique spiritual path: the “Nazirite”. Unlike the Priesthood, which is a hereditary status, the Nazirite vow allows any man or woman to undergo a period of special consecration. It is a “grassroots” אֱלֹהִים -Elohim holiness, showing that sanctity is accessible to all. The chapter then transitions from this individual discipline to the collective Priestly Blessing, illustrating how individual devotion and communal blessing are two sides of the same spiritual coin.
YYYYYYY
Let us read Numbers
Chapter 6:1-26: (JPS-1917
version of the Torah).
1. And יְהוָה -
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2. ‘Speak
unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall
clearly utter a vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to
consecrate himself unto יְהוָה -
the LORD, 3. he shall abstain from wine and
strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink,
neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or
dried. 4. All the days of his Naziriteship
shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the pressed grapes
even to the grapestone. 5. All the days of his vow of Naziriteship there shall no razor come upon his head; until
the days be fulfilled, in which he consecrateth
himself unto יְהוָה -
the LORD, he shall be holy, he shall let the locks of the hair of his
head grow long. 6. All the days that he consecrateth himself unto יְהוָה -
the LORD he shall not come near to a dead body. 7. He
shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his
brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his consecration unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) is upon his
head. 8. All the days of his Naziriteship
he is holy unto יְהוָה -
the LORD. 9. And if any man die
very suddenly beside him, and he defile his consecrated head, then he shall
shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave
it. 10. And on the eighth day he shall bring two
turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of
meeting. 11. And the priest shall prepare one for a
sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and make atonement for him,
for that he sinned by reason of the dead; and he shall hallow his head that
same day. 12. And he shall consecrate unto יְהוָה -
the LORD the days of his Naziriteship, and
shall bring a he-lamb of the first year for a guilt-offering; but the former
days shall be void, because his consecration was defiled.
13. And this is the law of the Nazirite, when
the days of his consecration are fulfilled: he shall bring it unto the door of
the tent of meeting; 14. and he shall present his
offering unto יְהוָה -
the LORD, one he-lamb of the first year without blemish for a
burnt-offering, and one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish for a
sin-offering, and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings, 15. and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour
mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and their
meal-offering, and their drink-offerings. 16. And the
priest shall bring them before יְהוָה -
the LORD, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his
burnt-offering. 17. And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice
of peace-offerings unto יְהוָה -
the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall offer
also the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
18. And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated
head at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair of his
consecrated head, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of
peace-offerings. 19. And the priest shall take the
shoulder of the ram when it is sodden, and one unleavened cake out of the
basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven his consecrated head. 20. And the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before
the יְהוָה -
LORD; this is holy for the priest, together with the breast of waving
and the thigh of heaving; and after that the Nazirite
may drink wine. 21. This is the law of the Nazirite who voweth, and of his
offering unto יְהוָה -
the LORD for his Naziriteship, beside that for
which his means suffice; according to his vow which he voweth,
so he must do after the law of his Naziriteship’. 22. And יְהוָה -
the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 23. ‘Speak
unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: On this wise ye shall bless the children
of
YYYYYYY
Next are the Explanations for Numbers Chapter 6,
Verses 1 to 8 - The Nazirite Vow.
Explanation Verses 1-4: The vow is an act of “separating” oneself unto יְהוָה - the LORD. The primary restriction is against all grape products, not just wine, but even seeds and skins. This suggests a total withdrawal from physical indulgence to maintain mental and spiritual clarity.
Explanation Verse 5: The hair is left to grow wild. This serves as a visible, living sign of the person’s status, indicating they are “holy” and have abandoned social grooming norms for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Explanation Verses 6-8: The Nazirite must avoid contact with the dead, even for immediate family. This places them on a level of sanctity similar to the High Priest, prioritising their devotion to the “Living אֱלֹהִים - Elohim” above all earthly ties.
Verses 9-12: Accidental Defilement and Renewal.
Explanation Verses 9-12: If someone dies suddenly near a Nazirite, their “consecrated head” is defiled. They must shave their hair, bring offerings (turtledoves or pigeons), and start their entire vow period over. It highlights that in matters of holiness, intent matters, but so does the physical reality of one’s state.
Verses 13-21: Completion of the Vow.
Explanation Verses 13-15: Ending the vow is a complex ritual. It involves burnt, sin, and peace offerings, along with unleavened bread.
Explanation Verses 18-20: The Nazirite shaves their hair at the door of the Tabernacle and burns it under the peace offering. This act symbolises the return of their “crown” of holiness to the altar. Once the priest performs the wave offering, the Nazirite may drink wine again, returning to normal life.
Explanation Verse 21: This concludes the “law of the Nazirite”, noting that if they promised more than the minimum requirements, they must fulfill those additional oaths as well.
Verses 22-26: The Priestly Blessing.
Explanation Verses
22–23: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim instructs Aaron and his sons on the
exact formula to bless the children of
Explanation Verse 24: “יְהוָה - the LORD bless thee, and keep thee”. A prayer for material provision and protection of what one possesses.
Explanation Verse 25: “יְהוָה - the LORD make His face to shine upon thee...” – A request for Divine favour, enlightenment, and “grace” (unmerited kindness).
Explanation Verse 26: “יְהוָה - the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace”. The ultimate blessing: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s direct attention and the gift of Shalom (wholeness/peace).
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
Numbers 6 teaches us that holiness is a choice we can make through discipline and “separation” from the mundane. However, the chapter ends not with the rigours of the vow, but with the Priestly Blessing. This reminds us that while we may strive for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim through our own efforts and vows, it is ultimately אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s grace and “shining face” that provide us with true peace. Whether we are in a season of intense dedication or daily routine, we live under the protective light of the Divine!
YYYYYYY
Please
Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This
site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us,
especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very
much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via
several of our prophets...
“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please
always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with
you!
Enter ...