Numbers 6:4

4 all [the] days in which they be hallowed by a vow to the Lord; they shall not eat whatever thing may be of the vinery, from the rind till to the little grains that be in the midst of the grape.

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.


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 thou to the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, When a man either a woman maketh a vow, that they be hallowed, and they will hallow themselves to the Lord, (Say thou to the Israelites, When a man or a woman maketh a vow, that they will become a Nazarite, and they will consecrate, or will dedicate, themselves to the Lord,)
3 they shall abstain from wine, and from all thing that may make drunken; they shall not drink vinegar of wine, and of anything able to make drunken, and whatever thing is pressed out of the grape; they shall not eat fresh grapes and dry, (they shall abstain from wine, and from all things that can make them drunk; they shall not drink wine vinegar, or any other thing that is able to make them drunk, or whatever is pressed out of the grape; they shall not eat fresh grapes, or dried grapes,)
4 all [the] days in which they be hallowed by a vow to the Lord; they shall not eat whatever thing may be of the vinery, from the rind till to the little grains that be in the midst of the grape.
5 All the time of his separating, or of his avow holding, a razor shall not pass upon his head, unto the day(s) be fulfilled in which he is hallowed to the Lord; he shall be holy, and the hair of his head shall wax. (All the time of his separation, or of the keeping of his vow, a razor shall not pass over his head, until the days be fulfilled in which he is consecrated, or is dedicated, to the Lord; he shall be holy, and his head hair shall grow.)
6 In all the time of his hallowing (In all the time of his consecration, or his dedication), he shall not enter upon a dead body,
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.