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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, etc.).

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 6 In this chapter is given the law concerning Nazarites, Num 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, Num 6:3; and in case of a defilement, directions are given what offerings a Nazarite should bring to be offered for him, Num 6:9; and when the time of his Nazariteship was up, an account is given of what rites and ceremonies should then be performed, Num 6:13; and the chapter is concluded with the form of blessing the children of Israel, to be used by Aaron and his sons, Num 6:22.

And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles or two young pigeons to the priest,.... Not a turtledove and a young pigeon, as Ben Gersom observes, but two of one of the sorts, which was the offering of the poorer sort of childbearing women at their purification, and of profluvious persons, men or women, Lev 12:8; and this case of the Nazarite's being an uncleanness, could not be purged away but by sacrifice; which was typical of the sacrifice of Christ, by which that unclean thing sin is put away for ever; even the sins of holy things can be moved in no other way; these were to be brought to the priest to be offered by him: to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; for being defiled, the Nazarite might not go into the tabernacle, and therefore was to bring his offering to the door of it, where the priest received it of him.

The great design of God in giving his laws is, that the people may fear and obey him, that they may continue in peace and prosperity, and be mightily increased, Deu 6:1-3. The great commandment of the law, Deu 6:4, Deu 6:5, which shall be laid up in their hearts, Deu 6:6; taught to their children, Deu 6:7; and affixed as a sign to their hands, heads, doors, and gates, Deu 6:8, Deu 6:9. How they are to act when they shall come into the promised land, Deu 6:10-19. How they shall instruct their children, and relate the history to them of God's wonderful acts, Deu 6:20-25.

THE LAW OF THE NAZARITE IN HIS SEPARATION. (Num. 6:1-22) When either man or woman . . . shall vow a vow of a Nazarite--that is, "a separated one," from a Hebrew word, "to separate." It was used to designate a class of persons who, under the impulse of extraordinary piety and with a view to higher degrees of religious improvement, voluntarily renounced the occupations and pleasures of the world to dedicate themselves unreservedly to the divine service. The vow might be taken by either sex, provided they had the disposal of themselves (Num 30:4), and for a limited period--usually a month or a lifetime (Jdg 13:5; Jdg 16:17). We do not know, perhaps, the whole extent of abstinence they practised. But they separated themselves from three things in particular--namely, from wine, and all the varieties of vinous produce; from the application of a razor to their head, allowing their hair to grow; and from pollution by a dead body. The reasons of the self-restrictions are obvious. The use of wine tended to inflame the passions, intoxicate the brain, and create a taste for luxurious indulgence. The cutting off the hair being a recognized sign of uncleanness (Lev 14:8-9), its unpolled luxuriance was a symbol of the purity he professed. Besides, its extraordinary length kept him in constant remembrance of his vow, as well as stimulated others to imitate his pious example. Moreover, contact with a dead body, disqualifying for the divine service, the Nazarite carefully avoided such a cause of unfitness, and, like the high priest, did not assist at the funeral rites of his nearest relatives, preferring his duty to God to the indulgence of his strongest natural affections.

If any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration--Cases of sudden death might occur to make him contract pollution; and in such circumstances he was required, after shaving his head, to make the prescribed offerings necessary for the removal of ceremonial defilement (Lev 15:13; Num 19:11). But by the terms of this law an accidental defilement vitiated the whole of his previous observances, and he was required to begin the period of his Nazaritism afresh. But even this full completion did not supersede the necessity of a sin offering at the close. Sin mingles with our best and holiest performances, and the blood of sprinkling is necessary to procure acceptance to us and our services.