REGULATIONS FOR NAZIRITES. A Nazirite was one, whether man or woman (2), who undertook either for life or for a shorter time a vow to observe certain rules, involving various abstinences. An instance of a lifelong vow is afforded by Samson (Judges 13:7): examples of temporary vows occur only outside... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OFFERINGS REQUIRED AT THE TERMINATION OF THE NAZIRITE VOW. The most distinctive feature of the concluding ritual was the shaving of the hair (_cf._ Acts 18:18) and the burning of it in the fire on the altar. This was probably at first of the nature of an offering, the primitive idea being that,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIESTLY BLESSING. This blessing, though incorporated in P, has probably been derived from some earlier source (perhaps a psalm, _cf._ Psalms 4:6; Psalms 29:11; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 67:1; Psalms 67:6 f., Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19;... [ Continue Reading ]