Numbers 6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 6

In this chapter we have, I. The law concerning Nazarites, 1. What it was to which the vow of a Nazarite obliged him, Num. 6:1-8. 2. A remedial law in case a Nazarite happened to be polluted by the touch of a dead body, Num. 6:9-12. 3. The solemnity of his discharge when his time was up, Num. 6:13-21. II. Instructions given to the priests how they should bless the people, Num. 6:22-27 read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 6:1-21

After the law for the discovery and shame of those that by sin had made themselves vile, fitly follows this for the direction and encouragement of those who by their eminent piety and devotion had made themselves honourable, and distinguished themselves from their neighbours. It is very probable that there were those before the making of this law who went under the character of Nazarites, and were celebrated by that title as persons professing greater strictness and zeal in religion than other... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 6:22-27

Here, I. The priests, among other good offices which they were to do, are appointed solemnly to bless the people in the name of the Lord, Luke 6:23. It was part of their work, Deut. 21:5. Hereby God put an honour upon the priests, for the less is blessed of the better; and hereby he gave great comfort and satisfaction to the people, who looked upon the priest as God's mouth to them. Though the priests of himself could do no more than beg a blessing, yet being an intercessor by office, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 6 In this chapter is given the law concerning Nazarites, Numbers 6:1 ; which directs what they were to abstain from, from drinking wine, or any strong liquors, from shaving their heads, and defiling themselves with the dead, Numbers 6:3 ; and in case of a defilement, directions are given what offerings a Nazarite should bring to be offered for him, Numbers 6:9 ; and when the time of his Nazariteship was up, an account is given of what rites and ceremonies... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... At the same time, or immediately after the law concerning the woman suspected of adultery was given; with which the following law concerning Nazarites may be thought to have a close connection, as some Jewish writers observe, women being concerned in it as well as men; and as wine leads to adultery, as Jarchi observes, abstinence from it, which the Nazarite's vow obliged to, and forbearance of trimming and dressing the hair, and a being more strictly and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... Whom the following law only concerned, and not Gentiles; so runs the Jewish canon,"the Gentiles have no Nazariteship, though they may bring their vows and freewill offerings as an Israelite, yet if they vow the vow of a Nazarite, the law of the Nazarite is not obliging on them, or they bound by it; but it is free for them to drink wine, and defile themselves for the dead; for it is written, "speak unto the children of Israel" F17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:3

He shall separate himself from wine ,.... Old or new, as Ben Gersom; from drinking it, any of it: not only from an immoderate and excessive drinking of it, which every man should abstain from, but from drinking of it at all, that he might be more free and fit for the service of God; for prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures, and attendance on the worship of God in all its branches, and be less liable to temptations to sin; for, as Aben Ezra observes, many transgressions are occasioned... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:4

All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree ,.... Of its leaves, branches, and fruit, especially the latter, put into any sort of food, or infused into any liquor, or mixed with any sauce for food: the days or time of separation were according as the vow was made, for a shorter or longer time; though the Jews F20 Misn. Nazir, c. 1. sect. 3. & c. 6. sect. 3. say, where the vow is, absolutely expressed, it is always to be understood of thirty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:5

All the days of the vow of his separation ,.... Be the time he has vowed to be a Nazarite a week, a, month, or more, even a thousand days, but not less than thirty, as Ben Gersom observes: there shall no razor come upon his head ; he might not shave his beard, nor cut off his locks, and shave his head, nor cut short his locks with a pair of scissors, nor any with anything by which the hair may be removed, as Ben Gersom; nor pluck off his hair with his hands, as Maimonides says F24 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 6:6

All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord ,.... This phrase is repeated at every new article and branch of the law of the Nazarites, of which what follows is the third; showing that each part of it, during that time, was strictly to be observed: he shall come at no dead body : not near to any, not even to be in the same place where a dead body lay, nor to touch one, nor to attend the funeral of any, nor be concerned at all about burying the dead; now, as such so defiled... read more

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