John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. All the days of the vow of his separation , etc.] 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 f67 ; but let it grow as long as it would during the time of his separation, which is expressed in the latter part of the verse: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth [himself] unto the Lord ; to his service, to which he wholly addicted himself as long as his vow continued: he shall be holy ; separate from other men, and their practices and customs, and spend his time in holy exercises, in a religious way, and abstain from what might be a temptation to sin, or in the least hinder him in his acts of devotion: [and] shall let the locks of his hair grow ; two reasons Fagius gives of this part of the law, the one is, because of the mystery of it; letting the hair grow signified an increase of virtue or grace, as Samson’s strength was increased and became very great while his hair was not cut; and so spiritual Nazarites, while they are in the way of their duty, grow in grace, and in knowledge of God and Christ, and all divine things, and grow stronger and stronger in the Lord, and in the power of his might; and Ainsworth hints at the same thing, and also supposes it might be an emblem of the subjection of the saints to Christ, as the letting the hair grow was a sign of the woman’s subjection to man: the other is, that it was appointed to take the Israelites off of the errors and superstitious they had imbibed in Egypt, by ordering them to perform those rites and ceremonies to the honour of the true God, which they had used in the service of demons; and for this he cites a passage out of Cyrill; but it does not appear, by any good authority, that such a custom obtained among the Egyptians, or any other Gentiles so early; and what were used among them in later times took their rise from hence, and were imitations of this law; though there seems to be no great likeness between this law of Nazariteship and the customs of the Heathens, who used to consecrate their hair to their deities, Apollo, Hercules, Bacchus, Minerva, and Diana: what seems best to agree is what Lucian says f68 , who observes, that young men consecrate their beards, and let their hair grow, consecrated from their birth, which they afterwards cut and lay up in vessels in the temple, some of gold, others of silver.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-21 - The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were appointed of God before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson and Joh the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the worl and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, an under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. Nazarite is spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to greater certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious me might not multiply the restraints endlessly, God gives them rules. The must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separat themselves to God, must not gratify the desires of the body, but kee it under. Let all Christians be very moderate in the use of wine an strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the mastery of a man he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothin that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, an all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us. They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and ornament of it Those who separate themselves to God, must keep their consciences pur from dead works, and not touch unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be holy to the Lord. This was the meaning of thos outward observances, and without this they were of no account. N penalty or sacrifice was appointed for those who wilfully broke their vow of being Nazarites; they must answer another day for such profan trifling with the Lord their God; but those were to be relieved who di not sin wilfully. There is nothing in Scripture that bears the leas resemblance to the religious orders of the church of Rome, except thes Nazarites. But mark the difference, or rather how completely opposed The religious of that church are forbidden to marry; but no suc restriction is laid upon the Nazarites. They are commanded to abstai from meats; but the Nazarites might eat any food allowed othe Israelites. They are not generally forbidden wine, not even on their fasting days; but the Nazarites might not have wine at any time. Their vow is lasting, even to the end of their lives; the Nazarites' vow wa only for a limited time, at their own will; and in certain cases no unless allowed by husbands or parents. Such a thorough difference ther is between rules of man's invention and those directed in Scripture Let us not forget that the Lord Jesus is not only our Surety, but als our example. For his sake we must renounce worldly pleasures, abstai from fleshy lusts, be separate from sinners, make open profession of our faith, moderate natural affections, be spiritually-minded, an devoted to God's service, and desirous to be an example all around us (Nu 6:22-27)
Original Hebrew כל3605 ימי3117 נדר5088 נזרו5145 תער8593 לא3808 יעבר5674 על5921 ראשׁו7218 עד5704 מלאת4390 הימם3117 אשׁר834 יזיר5144 ליהוה3068 קדשׁ6918 יהיה1961 גדל1431 פרע6545 שׂער8181 ראשׁו׃7218
