This chapter lays out the rules for a Nazarite Vow which was a voluntary commitment to dedicate oneself to God for a stipulated period of time. During the period of the Nazarite Vow the person could not drink wine which was normally drunk by all Israelites. In fact the person could not consume anything at all with grape in it. Nor could the person cut his hair during the vow, and could not go near a dead body even if one of their close relatives died. If a person died suddenly near a Nazarite then they had to shave the head and start the vow again, giving 2 doves or young pigeons as offerings. When the period of the vow was completed the Nazarite would offer to God a male lamb, a female lamb, a ram, loaves of unleavened bread, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, a grain offering and a drink offering. Then the Nazarite was to shave his or her hair and burn it on the altar before offering a wave offering of a ram's thigh and a loaf and a wafer of bread. Thus the Nazarite vow was completed and the person could resume drinking wine normally.
The chapter ends with the priestly blessing which has special significance after the Covid pandemic: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
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