Numbers 6:19
And the priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them into the hands of the Nazirite who has just shaved the hair of his consecration.
And the priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram,

The ram belonged to the peace offering presented at the completion of the Nazirite’s vow. Its boiled shoulder was a designated sacred portion, marking the offering as part of the worship required when the period of consecration ended.

Lev 7:32-34 And you are to give the right thigh to the priest…
Exo 29:26-27 Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination…
Deu 18:3 This shall be the priests’ share from the people…

one unleavened cake from the basket,

The cake came from the grain offering supplied with the peace offering. Its unleavened character accorded with the holy setting and the Nazirite’s completed separation to the Lord.

Lev 8:26 And from the basket of unleavened bread…
Exo 29:3 put them in a basket, and present them in the basket…

and one unleavened wafer,

The wafer completed the portion placed before the Nazirite. Together with the shoulder and cake, it showed that the conclusion of the vow involved both sacrifice and thanksgiving.

Exo 29:2 along with unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil…
Exo 29:23 along with one loaf of bread, one cake of bread…
Lev 2:4 Now if you bring an offering of grain baked in an oven…

and put them into the hands of the Nazirite

The Nazirite personally received these holy portions before they were presented as a wave offering. Though the priest conducted the ritual, the worshiper who had made the vow participated directly in its fulfillment.

Exo 29:24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons…
Lev 8:27-28 He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons…

who has just shaved the hair of his consecration.

Shaving the consecrated hair signaled that the vowed period had ended. The hair had marked his separation to the Lord, and its removal followed the completion of the required sacrifices and ceremonial acts.

Jdg 16:17-19 Samson told her all that was in his heart:…
Act 18:18 Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time…
Act 21:23-24 Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nazirite
An individual who has taken a special vow of consecration to the Lord, characterized by abstaining from wine, not cutting their hair, and avoiding contact with the dead.

2. Priest
A religious leader responsible for performing sacrifices and rituals, acting as an intermediary between God and the people.

3. Ram
An animal used in sacrificial offerings, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God.

4. Consecrated Hair
The hair of the Nazirite, which is grown during the period of the vow and then shaved off as part of the completion ritual.

5. Unleavened Bread
Bread made without yeast, symbolizing purity and separation from sin.
Teaching Points
Consecration and Commitment
The Nazirite vow is a profound commitment to God, symbolizing total dedication and separation from worldly influences. Believers today can reflect on their own commitments to God and consider ways to consecrate their lives more fully.

Role of the Priest
The priest's involvement highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and guidance. In the church today, pastors and leaders play a similar role in guiding believers in their spiritual journeys.

Symbolism of Sacrifice
The sacrificial elements (ram, unleavened bread) remind us of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Believers are called to live sacrificially, offering their lives as a living sacrifice to God.

Completion of Vows
The shaving of the Nazirite's hair signifies the completion of a vow. This teaches us the importance of fulfilling our promises to God and others, emphasizing integrity and faithfulness.

Purity and Holiness
The use of unleavened bread underscores the call to purity and holiness. Christians are encouraged to live lives that are set apart, avoiding sin and striving for righteousness.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the Nazirite vow teach us about the nature of commitment and dedication to God in our own lives?

2. How can the role of the priest in the Nazirite vow completion inform our understanding of spiritual leadership in the church today?

3. In what ways does the symbolism of the sacrificial elements in Numbers 6:19 point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

4. How can we apply the principle of fulfilling vows and promises in our daily lives, both spiritually and relationally?

5. What steps can we take to pursue purity and holiness in our lives, as symbolized by the unleavened bread in the Nazirite vow?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 7:30-34
Discusses the wave offering and the portions of the sacrifice that belong to the priest, providing context for the priest's role in the Nazirite vow completion.

Judges 13-16
The account of Samson, a Nazirite from birth, illustrates the significance and challenges of the Nazirite vow.

Acts 18:18
Paul takes a vow, possibly a Nazirite vow, showing the continuation of such practices in the early church.
A Faithful AbstainerNumbers 6:1-21
Dangerous Things to be AvoidedJ. Spencer.Numbers 6:1-21
Degrading Effects of DrinkJ. B. Gough.Numbers 6:1-21
Nazarite RulesDean Law.Numbers 6:1-21
Of the Vows of the Nazarites, and the Use Thereof to UsW. Attersoll.Numbers 6:1-21
Separated to the Service of GodW. Binnie Numbers 6:1-21
The Law of Vows (With Special Reference to the Nazarite)W. Roberts, M. A.Numbers 6:1-21
The NazariteLewis R. Dunn, D. D.Numbers 6:1-21
The Ordinance of NazariteshipC. H. Mackintosh.Numbers 6:1-21
The Vow of the NazariteW. Jones.Numbers 6:1-21
The Regulations for Observance of the Nazarite's VowD. Young Numbers 6:3-21
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses, Naziriteship
Places
Sinai
Topics
Basket, Boiled, Cake, Consecrated, Consecration, Cooked, Cut, Dedicated, Dedication, Hair, Hands, Leg, Nazarite, Nazirite, Palms, Priest, Ram, Ram's, Separate, Separation, Shaved, Shaven, Shaving, Sheep, Shoulder, Sodden, Thin, Unleavened, Wafer, Yeast
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 6:19

     4554   yeast
     5268   cooking

Numbers 6:1-20

     5155   hair

Numbers 6:1-21

     4544   wine
     5741   vows

Numbers 6:13-20

     4530   unleavened bread

Numbers 6:17-20

     4418   bread

Library
Separation to God.
NUMB. VI. 1-21. THE INSTITUTION OF THE ORDER OF NAZARITES. The first twenty-one verses of Numb. vi. give us an account of the institution and ordinances of the order of Nazarites. And let us note at the outset that this institution, like every other good and perfect gift, came from above; that GOD Himself gave this privilege--unasked--to His people; thereby showing His desire that "whosoever will" of His people may be brought into closest relationship to Himself. It was very gracious of GOD to permit
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Tenth Day. Holiness and Separation.
I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from other people that ye should be Mine.'--Lev. xx. 24, 26. 'Until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy.... All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord.'--Num. vi. 5, 8. 'Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Of the Duties which we are to Perform after Receiving the Holy Communion, Called Action or Practice.
The duty which we are to perform after the receiving of the Lord's Supper is called action or practice, without which all the rest will minister to us no comfort. The action consists of two sorts of duties:---First, Such as we are to perform in the church, or else after we are gone home. Those that we are to perform in the church are either several from our own souls, or else jointly with the congregation. The several duties which thou must perform from thine own soul are three:--First, Thou must
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

These Things, My Brother Aurelius, Most Dear unto Me...
38. These things, my brother Aurelius, most dear unto me, and in the bowels of Christ to be venerated, so far as He hath bestowed on me the ability Who through thee commanded me to do it, touching work of Monks, I have not delayed to write; making this my chief care, lest good brethren obeying apostolic precepts, should by lazy and disobedient be called even prevaricators from the Gospel: that they which work not, may at the least account them which do work to be better than themselves without doubt.
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

The Worship of the Synagogue
One of the most difficult questions in Jewish history is that connected with the existence of a synagogue within the Temple. That such a "synagogue" existed, and that its meeting-place was in "the hall of hewn stones," at the south-eastern angle of the court of the priest, cannot be called in question, in face of the clear testimony of contemporary witnesses. Considering that "the hall of hew stones" was also the meeting-place for the great Sanhedrim, and that not only legal decisions, but lectures
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Peace
Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. I Pet 1:1. Having spoken of the first fruit of sanctification, assurance, I proceed to the second, viz., Peace, Peace be multiplied:' What are the several species or kinds of Peace? Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into two silver streams. Isa 66:12. I. There is an external peace, and that is, (1.) (Economical, or peace in a family. (2.) Political, or peace in the state. Peace is the nurse of plenty. He maketh peace in thy borders,
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
(at Jerusalem. Probably b.c. 6.) ^C Luke I. 5-25. ^c 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa [a Jewish proselyte, an Idumæan or Edomite by birth, founder of the Herodian family, king of Judæa from b.c. 40 to a.d. 4, made such by the Roman Senate on the recommendation of Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar], a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course [David divided the priests into twenty-four bodies or courses, each course serving in rotation one week in the temple
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church.
1. That thou art going to the court of the Lord, and to speak with the great God by prayer; and to hear his majesty speak unto thee by his word; and to receive his blessing on thy soul, and thy honest labour, in the six days past. 2. Say with thyself by the way--"As the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the presence of God? For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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