Numbers 6:4

4 all the days of his vow: he shall eat no one of all the things that come from the vine, wine from the grape-stones to the husk,

Numbers 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 6:4

All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is
made of the vine tree
Of its leaves, branches, and fruit, especially the latter, put into any sort of food, or infused into any liquor, or mixed with any sauce for food: the days or time of separation were according as the vow was made, for a shorter or longer time; though the Jews ^F20 say, where the vow is, absolutely expressed, it is always to be understood of thirty days, during which time the Nazarite was not to eat or drink of any composition that had anything the vine in it:

from the kernels even to the husk;
the Jews ^F21 are divided about the two words here used, which of them signifies the outermost part of the grape, and which the innermost; Ben Gersom agrees with us, but it matters not much who are in the right, since both are forbidden: by this part of the law, the people of God, who are spiritual Nazarites, are taught to live temperately and soberly, and to abstain from all appearance of sin: it is pretty remarkable what the Jews ^F23 say, that when the son of David comes, it will be free for a Nazarite to drink wine on sabbath days and festivals, though not on week days; from whence it appears, they seem to be conscious of a change of the ceremonial law in his days.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Misn. Nazir, c. 1. sect. 3. & c. 6. sect. 3.
F21 Misn. Nazir, c. 6. sect. 2. Aben Ezra in loc.
F23 T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 43. 1.

Numbers 6:4 In-Context

2 speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Whatsoever man or woman shall specially vow a vow to separate oneself with purity to the Lord,

3 he shall purely abstain from wine and strong drink; and he shall drink no vinegar of wine or vinegar of strong drink; and whatever is made of the grape he shall not drink; neither shall he eat fresh grapes or raisins,

4 all the days of his vow: he shall eat no one of all the things that come from the vine, wine from the grape-stones to the husk,

5 all the days of his separation:—a razor shall not come upon his head, until the days be fulfilled which he vowed to the Lord: he shall be holy, cherishing the long hair of the head,

6 all the days of his vow to the Lord: he shall not come nigh to any dead body,

Footnotes

• [a]. grape-stones.