Reading Plan · Day 40
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Numbers 4-6
Day 40
Previously · Day 39 · Numbers 1-3
The previous day's reading covered the initial numbering of Israel when they came out of Egypt, the situation and responsibilities of each tribe of Israel, and the numbering of the Levites.
Day 40 Read
Where You Stopped
Numbers 4
Commentary · verses 1-20
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 3from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
1And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
2Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
3From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Commentary · verse 3
The sons of Kohath (from Levi) from thirty to fifty years old were counted to do the work in the tent of meeting/tabernacle. Notice, fifty years old was the "retirement age" for God's priests.
4This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, about the most holy things: 5when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it, 6and shall put thereon a covering of sealskin, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
7And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls and the cups wherewith to pour out; and the continual bread shall be thereon: 8and they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof.
9And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: 10and they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it upon the frame.
11And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof: 12and they shall take all the vessels of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
13And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 14and they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the firepans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and put in the staves thereof.
15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.
4This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
5And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
6And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
7And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
8And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.
9And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
10And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.
11And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
12And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar:
13And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
14And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it.
15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Commentary · verse 15
The sons of Kohath were responsible for carrying the items of the sanctuary from one destination to another. Aaron and his sons covered the items so that they would not be touched by the sons of Kohath. If the items were touched, they would die.
16And the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture thereof.
17And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 18Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; 19but thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden; 20but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.
16And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
17And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
18Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
19But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
20But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
Commentary · verse 20
Aaron and his sons would go in the sanctuary for the Kohathites and then appoint each man his burden/load to carry.
Commentary · verses 21-28
Verses 21-28: the duty of the Gershonites.
21And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 22Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families; 23from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to wait upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
21And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
22Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;
23From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Commentary · verse 23
The sons of Gershon (from Levi) from thirty to fifty years old were counted to do the work in the tent of meeting/tabernacle.
24This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens: 25they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above upon it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, 26and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatsoever shall be done with them: therein shall they serve.
24This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:
25And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
26And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
Commentary · verse 26
The sons of Gershon were responsible for the curtains, coverings, etc. of the tabernacle.
27At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burden.
28This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
27At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.
28This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Commentary · verse 28
The sons of Gershon were directed by Aaron and his sons, specifically Aaron's son Ithamar.
Commentary · verses 29-33
Verses 29-33: the duty of the family of Merari.
29As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers’ houses; 30from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth upon the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.
29As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
30From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Commentary · verse 30
The sons of Merari (from Levi) from thirty to fifty years old were counted to do the work in the tent of meeting/tabernacle.
31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, 32and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.
31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,
32And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.
Commentary · verse 32
The sons of Merari were responsible for the boards, bars, pillars, etc. of the tabernacle.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Commentary · verse 33
The sons of Merari were also directed by Aaron's son Ithamar.
Commentary · verses 34-49
Verses 34-49: Summary of the census of the Levites.
34And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 35from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting: 36and those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.
34And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
35From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
36And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Commentary · verse 37
The number of the Kohathites from thirty to fifty years old who served in the tabernacle was 2,750.
38And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 39from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting, 40even those that were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
41These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all that did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah.
38And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,
39From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
40Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
41These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.
Commentary · verse 41
The number of the Gershonites from thirty to fifty years old who served in the tabernacle was 2,630.
42And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 43from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting, 44even those that were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
45These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.
42And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,
43From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
44Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
45These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Commentary · verse 45
The number of the sons of Merari from thirty to fifty years old who served in the tabernacle was 3,200.
46All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 47from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, 48even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.
46All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
47From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,
48Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.
Commentary · verse 48
All of the men counted eligible for work in the tabernacle were 8,580.
49According to the commandment of Jehovah they were numbered by Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
49According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Where You Stopped
Numbers 5
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is unclean by the dead: 3both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell.
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
3Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
Commentary · verses 1-3
God commanded they put out of the camp all lepers, everyone with an issue, and everyone defiled by the dead.
4And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp; as Jehovah spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.
5And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 6Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Jehovah, and that soul shall be guilty; 7then he shall confess his sin which he hath done: and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him in respect of whom he hath been guilty.
4And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.
5And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty;
7Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.
Commentary · verses 4-7
Restitution for the sin was made in full plus an additional 20%. Notice, confession was made and then restitution (repentance); not only making up for the sin (restoration) but bringing more (repair) than what was there before the sin. Repentance ought to result in repair: something more or stronger. Restoration is only bringing the poor condition back to its original state, which is not more.
8But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made unto Jehovah shall be the priest’s; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.
9And every heave-offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present unto the priest, shall be his.
10And every man’s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.
8But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
9And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.
10And every man’s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.
Commentary · verses 11-31
Verses 11-31: the Trial of Jealousy. Some people feel this section is controversial. Read this section carefully.
11And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 12Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act;
11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,
13And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;
Commentary · verse 13
God presented an if/then to Moses. The "IF" was a woman that trespassed against her husband by committing adultery and hid it from him. Notice, the woman was guilty...
14and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
14And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
15Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
Commentary · verse 15
The "Then" was the husband had the "spirit of jealousy" and his response was to bring his wife to the priest with an offering. Notice, in verse 14, the "IF" was opened up to cases where she was not defiled. After all, how would the husband know for sure she had been defiled if it was hid from him? From this point on, the "IF" was if the husband had a spirit of jealousy, regardless if his wife had been defiled or not.
16And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah: 17and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water.
18And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse.
19And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse.
16And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:
17And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:
18And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:
19And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
Commentary · verse 19
The priest caused her to swear, she had to state her will. Remember this point: words were stated. The woman knew if she had been defiled and she made a statement of innocence out-loud. This was like a lie detector test. We know that our bodies exhibit an unconscious response to conscious lies: increased heart rate, change in breathing, adrenaline secreted, etc. We also know that God was in their midst, so stating the acceptance of a curse if one was lying would also have involved a very present God.
20But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband: 21then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell; 22and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy body to swell, and thy thigh to fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen.
20But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:
21Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;
22And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
Commentary · verse 22
The woman would say "Amen" twice after specifically stating the physical effects of the curse. "Amen" literally meant "so be it" and was considered a statement of agreement.
23And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: 24and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter.
23And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:
24And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.
Commentary · verse 24
The woman would drink the water of bitterness after seeing the curses were physically present in the water by mixing the water with the written curse.
25And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar: 26and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.
27And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
25Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:
26And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
27And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
Commentary · verse 27
There seems to be at least two explanations for why this would work. First, a very present God responded to the statement of the will of the individual. Second, the individual's unconscious would carry out the individual's conscious request.
28And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
29This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled; 30or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.
28And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
29This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;
30Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.
Where You Stopped
Numbers 6
Commentary · verses 1-12
Verses 1-12: the Nazirite Vow.
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto Jehovah,
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:
3he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.
5All the days of his vow of separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in which he separateth himself unto Jehovah, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
6All the days that he separateth himself unto Jehovah he shall not come near to a dead body.
3He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.
5All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
6All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.
Commentary · verse 6
The Nazirite vow had three guidelines:
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No strong drink including wine; no eating fruit from a vine,
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No razor shall come upon his head,
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shall not go near a dead body which included man or beast.
7He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his separation unto God is upon his head.
8All the days of his separation he is holy unto Jehovah.
7He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.
8All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.
Commentary · verse 8
Even if a family member died, the man under the Nazirite vow could become unclean by the dead body. Notice, the Nazirite was holy unto God all the days of the vow.
9And if any man die very suddenly beside him, and he defile the head of his separation; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
10And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting: 11and the priest shall offer one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and make atonement for him, for that he sinned by reason of the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
12And he shall separate unto Jehovah the days of his separation, and shall bring a he-lamb a year old for a trespass-offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.
9And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
10And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
11And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.
12And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
Commentary · verses 13-21
Verses 13-21: Concluding the Nazarite Vow.
13And this is the law of the Nazirite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tent of meeting:
13And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Commentary · verse 13
This vow was offered voluntarily and the Nazirite himself determined the length of the vow, although thirty days was common. Therefore, he decided how much he was willing to sacrifice. Yet, after the vow was made, its requirements were very strict.
14and he shall offer his oblation unto Jehovah, one he-lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt-offering, and one ewe-lamb a year old without blemish for a sin-offering, and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings, 15and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings.
14And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,
15And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
Commentary · verse 15
After the days of the vow were fulfilled, the man would bring an offering to the tabernacle.
16And the priest shall present them before Jehovah, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his burnt-offering: 17and he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.
18And the Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace-offerings.
16And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:
17And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.
18And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
Commentary · verse 18
After the vow was fulfilled, his hair was cut and it was burnt on the fire.
19And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven the head of his separation; 20and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah; this is holy for the priest, together with the wave-breast and heave-thigh: and after that the Nazirite may drink wine.
21This is the law of the Nazirite who voweth, and of his oblation unto Jehovah for his separation, besides that which he is able to get: according to his vow which he voweth, so he must do after the law of his separation.
19And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:
20And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.
21This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.
Commentary · verse 21
The Nazarite vow was used as a way for the person to draw closer to God by separating himself from the comforts of this world. This vow was a way to intentionally kill the "flesh."
22And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel: ye shall say unto them, 24Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee: 25Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27So shall they put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
22And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
24The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
Commentary · verses 22-27
This day's reading documented the roles and responsibilities for the sons of Aaron. Also, the procedure for dealing with lepers, the "trial of jealousy," and the Nazirite vows were covered.
Verses 1-20: the duty of the Kohathites.