Besides the religious nature of this institution, it seems to have been partly of a civil and prudential use. The sobriety and temperance which the Nazarites were obliged to observe were very conducive to health. Accordingly, they were celebrated for their fair and ruddy complexion; being said to be both whiter than milk and more ruddy than rubies (Lamentations 4:7); the sure signs of a sound and healthy constitution. It may here be observed, that when God intended to raise up Samson, by his strength of body, to scourge the enemies of Israel, he ordered, that from his infancy he should drink no wine, but live by the rule of the Nazarites, because that would greatly contribute to make him strong and healthy; intending, after nature had done her utmost to form this extraordinary instrument of his providence, to supply her defect by his own supernatural power. See Jenning's Jewish Antiquities, B. I. c. 8.
Bible Commentary
Numbers 6:3
Numbers 6:3
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others · Public Domain
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Numbers 6 — OverviewNumbers 6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter we have, I. The law concerning Nazarites, 1. What it
was to which the vow of a Nazarite obliged him, ver. 1-8. 2. A remedial
law in case a Nazarite happened to be polluted by the touch of a dead…Numbers 6 — OverviewNumbers 6 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 6:1, The law of the Nazarite in the days of his separation; Numbers 6:13, and after their completion; Numbers 6:22, The form of blessing the people.Numbers 6 — OverviewNumbers 6 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleIn this chapter is given the law concerning Nazarites, Nu 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, Nu…Numbers 6:1-21Numbers 6:1-21 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleAfter 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…Numbers 6:1-8Numbers 6:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryTHE TEMPORARY VOW OF THE NAZARITE SYMBOLICAL OF THE LIFELONG VOW OF THE CHRISTIAN
Though the Israelites had a priesthood, they were themselves "a kingdom of priests." Individual responsibility toward God was pressed…Numbers 6:1-21Numbers 6:1-21 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION
THE VOW Or THE NAZIRITE (Numbers 6:1-21).
Note.—The Hebrew Nazir has been written Nazarite in English under the mistaken impression that there is some connection between Nazir and Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). A…