Numbers 6:1-27
The Nazirite
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 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.
5 “‘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 “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. 8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.
9 “‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing. 10 Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering[a] and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12 They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.
13 “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting. 14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering,15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.
16 “‘The priest is to present all these before the Lord and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the Lord, together with its grain offering and drink offering.
18 “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
19 “‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast. 20 The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”
The Priestly Blessing
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Chapter six of the Book of Numbers tells us what it took to become a Nazirite...A Nazirite was a Hebrew or Israelite, who voluntary took a vow to be dedicated to the LORD...The Hebrew word nazir means consecrated or separated...This vow could be for a period of time...The LORD gave Moses instructions on this vow to become a Nazirite...The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink...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...“‘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...“‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body...Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head...Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the LORD...
Also, in chapter six of Numbers we learn about one of the oldest Hebrew blessings from the LORD... This is called the Priestly Blessing or a Priestly Blessing...The LORD told Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites...Say to them: “‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.”’...“So they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”...
The blessing asks the LORD to keep us...The blessing asks the LORD to shine His face on the people of Israel...The blessing asks the LORD to gracious to the people...And the blessing ask the LORD to turn His face toward them and give the people peace...This blessing is also called the Aaronic Blessing that he and his sons were to bless the Israelites...
So Moses would explain his brother Aaron what a blessing from the LORD was and how to do the blessing...The LORD's blessing are beautiful words from someone, and makes one feel good...Our Father in Heaven wants to bless us, and here gives us one of the first blessings...It makes me feel good because the LORD originated this blessing...The LORD blesses us, and His face shines upon us...He is gracious to us, and may the LORD's face be toward us, and bring us peace...
This blessing given to Moses to then given to Aaron, is originated from God...A blessing from God Himself...The blessing is therefore, from God and is for us...The LORD wants to keep us safe and protected, be gracious to us, and to give us peace...