Rules for the Nazirites

6 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Tell the Lord ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel]: ‘If men or women want to ·promise [make a special vow] to ·belong to the Lord in a special way [separate themselves to the Lord], they will be called Nazirites [^Cpeople especially set apart in devotion to God; Samson and Samuel are examples]. ³ During this time, they must not drink wine or ·beer [^Tstrong drink; ^Can alcoholic beverage made from grain], or vinegar made from wine or ·beer [^Tstrong drink]. They must not even drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. ⁴ While they are Nazirites, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, even the seeds or the skin.

⁵ “‘During the time they have ·promised [vowed] to ·belong to the [separate themselves to the] Lord, they must not cut their hair [^Cavoiding contact with dead matter]. They must be holy until this special time is over. They must let their hair grow long. ⁶ During ·their special time of belonging [the time of their vow] to the Lord, Nazirites must not go near a dead body. ⁷ Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not ·touch them, or they will become unclean [^Ldefile themselves; ^Cin a ritual sense]. ·They must still keep their promise to belong to God in a special way [^LThe consecration/separation to God is on their head]. ⁸ While they are Nazirites, they ·belong to the Lord in a special way [^Lare holy to the Lord].

⁹ “‘If they are next to someone who dies suddenly, their hair, which was ·part of their promise [consecrated], has been ·made unclean [defiled; ^Cin a ritual sense]. So they must shave their head seven days later to be clean. ¹⁰ Then on the eighth day, they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Meeting Tent. ¹¹ The priest will offer one as a ·sin [or purification; Lev. 4:3] offering and the other as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17]. This ·removes sin so they will belong to the Lord [makes atonement for them]. (They had sinned because they were near a dead body.) That same day they ·will again promise to let their hair grow [^Lsanctify/consecrate the head] ¹² and ·give themselves [separate themselves] to the Lord for ·another special time [^Ltheir time as Nazirites]. They must bring a male lamb a year old as a ·penalty [guilt; reparation; Lev. 5:14—6:9] offering. The days of the special time before don’t count, because ·they became unclean during their first special time [^Lthe consecrated/sanctified head became defiled].

¹³ “‘This is the ·teaching [instruction; law] for the Nazirites. When the ·promised time [time of their consecration] is over, they must go to the entrance of the Meeting Tent ¹⁴ and give their offerings to the Lord. They must offer a year-old male lamb that ·has nothing wrong with it [is unblemished], as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17], a year-old female lamb that ·has nothing wrong with it [is unblemished], as a ·sin [or purification; Lev. 4:3] offering, and a ·male sheep [ram] that ·has nothing wrong with it [is unblemished], for a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1]. ¹⁵ They must also bring the ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings that go with them. And they must bring a basket of bread made without ·yeast [leaven], loaves made with ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil, and wafers made without ·yeast [leaven] spread with oil.

¹⁶ “‘The priest will give these offerings to the Lord and make the ·sin [or purification; Lev. 4:3] offering and the burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17]. ¹⁷ Then he will ·kill [^Loffer] the ·male sheep [ram] as a ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1] to the Lord; along with it, he will present the basket of bread made without yeast [leaven], the ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1], and the drink offering.

¹⁸ “‘The Nazirites must go to the entrance of the Meeting Tent and shave ·off their hair that they grew for their promise [^Ltheir consecrated head]. The hair will be put in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offering [Lev. 3:1].

¹⁹ “‘After the Nazirites ·cut off their hair [^Lshave their consecrated head], the priest will give them a boiled shoulder from the ·male sheep [ram]. From the basket he will also give a loaf and a wafer, both made without ·yeast [leaven]. ²⁰ Then the priest will ·present [elevate] them to the Lord. They are ·holy and belong to [a holy portion for] the priest. Also, he is to ·present [elevate] the breast and the thigh from the ·male sheep [ram]. After that, the Nazirites may drink wine.

²¹ “‘This is the ·teaching [instruction; law] for the Nazirites who ·make a promise [take a vow]. Everyone who makes the Nazirite ·promise [vow] must give all of these gifts to the Lord. If they promised to do more, they must keep their ·promise [vow], according to the ·teaching [instruction; law] of the Nazirites.’”

The Priests’ Blessings

²² The Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you should bless the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel]. Say to them:

²⁷ “So Aaron and his sons will ·bless the Israelites with my name [^Lput my name upon the sons/^Tchildren of Israel], and I will bless them.”