NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:1 Nazirites were the most dedicated laypeople in the OT. Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were lifelong Nazirites, but usually a person vowed to become a Nazirite for a limited period of time. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:7 Contact with death brought severe uncleanness. It had to be remedied by offering three sacrifices (SIN, BURNT, and GUILT offerings; Leviticus 1:14; Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:14) and by starting the period of the Nazirite vow all over again: THE PREVIOUS PERIOD SHALL BE V... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:13 When the period for which a Nazirite had dedicated himself ended, he had to bring various offerings. His unshaven head marked his dedication to God, and by burning the HAIR he symbolically gave himself to God. THE SHOULDER OF THE RAM is given to the PRIEST, in addition t... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:22 This famous blessing shows that God’s will is to bless every Israelite, not just the Nazirites. The priests offer God’s blessing to the people. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:24 THE LORD BLESS YOU. God blesses by giving good harvests, peace, children, and his own presence (Leviticus 26:3). KEEP. That is, “guard” and “protect.” HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. A shining face indicates God’s favor on his people. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 6:26 The “countenance” is the face or its expression. For God to LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE involves taking notice of his people and treating them with favor. PEACE (Hebrew _shalom_) involves more than the English sense of “lack of war”; it means total well-being. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var ima... [ Continue Reading ]