Page 4 - October 2025 - Truth & Tidings

Introduction overthrows all the pages of suppositions

Tucked away among Numbers’ opening in both Christian and Jewish scholarship
1
chapters of instructions, lists and names is because “the LORD spake unto Moses.”
a significant passage about a man or wom- A second important fact is that, un-
an who takes a special vow to be devoted like many Jewish regulations, either sex
to God: a Nazarite. The word Nazarite could take this vow of consecration and
means “one separated,” or “distinguished set themselves apart from the people of
one,” to God. There is no continuing vow God. As a practical lesson for us today,
of a Nazarite in the New Testament. Yet as we do not vow to set ourselves apart from
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are other Christians, but holiness pertains to
sanctified, both positionally before God all believers. The devotion of sisters in the
and practically before the world. It is ap- local assembly is no less than their public
parent through the aspects of the Nazarite counterparts. Women in the NT displayed
vow that there are direct applications to prominent devotion, including Mary in
us as believers. This series of articles will Bethany, the women funding the Lord's
examine Numbers 6 and the Nazarite. journeys, those at the foot of the cross,
the women beholding the cross from a
Structure of the Chapter distance, Mary Magdalene and other

Numbers 6 has three parts, each of women going to the tomb. Consecration
which will have a devoted article. First, to God is as much a matter for the sisters
verses 1-12 describe the vow of the Naza- as it is for the brothers.
rite. We learn the distinguishing features The Grape
of the Nazarite, including the procedure There were three ways that a Nazarite
of restarting the vow due to unintentional would separate themselves from other
defilement. Next, verses 13-21 consider Israelites: the grape, their hair and special
the required sacrifices at the termination avoidance of death. The fruit of a vineyard
of the prescribed time of the vow. Lastly, played a prominent role once the children
verses 22-27 relay the Lord again speaking of Israel entered the land. One of the great
to Moses with a priestly blessing upon the evidences of the prosperity of the land was
people of Israel. the cluster of grapes that required two

Vow of the Nazarite spies to carry it back from the brook Eschol
during Israel’s initial reconnaissance of
Many commentators, modern or not, Canaan (Num 13:23). Grapes, vineyards
call into question the origins of these in- and winepresses were prominent in Israel,
structions. They suppose that since there and therefore often taken up by the proph-
is no example of a Nazarite in the Old ets as vivid pictures to Israel. Avoiding all
Testament taking this vow for a set time, things that came from the vine would be
these instructions were progressively
added to make this consecration increas- 1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV
ingly more stringent. Yet the first verse unless otherwise noted.

292 TRUTH kTidings October 2025