In The Wilderness
One of These Things Is Not Like
The Other
Nazirite
Numbers 6:1-21
Volunteer / Choosing
Common ancient practice
Culture of Outward Appearance
Nazirite
“to separate” from 3 specific things…
“special” vow
“wondrous” / “miraculous”
“they must abstain from wine and
other fermented drink and must not
drink vinegar made from wine or
other fermented drink.” (6:2)
“They must not drink grape juice or eat
grapes or raisins. As long as they remain
under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat
anything that comes from the grapevine, not
even the seeds or skins..” (6:3-4)
During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no
razor may be used on their head. They must be
holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord
is over; they must let their hair grow long. (6:5)
Throughout the period of their
dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must
not go near a dead body.” (6:6)
Do not go near a corpse,
lit. “dead life/soul.” (6:6)
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some
time. Then he left the brothers and sailed
for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and
Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair
cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he
had taken. (Ac 18:18)
VINE
“Symbol of a sedentary
life.”
“It is not difficult
to infer from the
ubiquity of
these … beer
jugs that the
Philistines were
mighty
carousers.”
HAIR
Source of person’s vitality
and strength
“A memorial to Astarte”
(9th c. Cypriot temple bowl)
“The possibility exists that during
Israel’s early wars to conquer the land
of Canaan, whole armies would vow
not to cut their hair until victory was
won.” (Judges 5:2)
Public
Declaration
DEATH
Opposite of life. Impurity.
VOLUNTEER!?
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“A Great Vow”
“…for every man is his
own greatest and most
valuable possession,
and this even he now
gives up and
abandons.”
(Philo, 1:248)
To recover from a disease or distress
(spiritual gratitude)
To become more holy (a spiritual discipline)
Leviticus 10
Leviticus 21
Appointed
Holy Person
Chosen
Common
The presence
of the priest
is for God.
The presence
of a Nazarite
is not only for
the Nazarite,
but for the
people
around them.
What the
priests
accomplish
at the
Tabernacle,
the Nazirites
accomplish
in the
community.
When you
deny and
discipline
yourself, you
are bringing
holiness to
the
community.
When you
live in this
community
as a Nazirite,
you remind
that
community
of it’s
holiness.
In The Wilderness
One of These Things Is Not Like
The Other