Westminster Annotations, Numbers · Chapter 6 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VI.
Vers. 2. MAn or woman] Then were Nazarites of both sexes.
Nazarite] See Annot. on vers. 4.
V. 3. strong drinke] All liquor that doth inebriate, or incline to drunkennesse.
moyst grapes, or dried] The abstinence was so strict, that he must have neither meat nor drinke from the Vine; and so must neither drinke wine, nor sip vineger, or dip in it; nor eate grapes though dryed up into raysens.
V. 4. separation] Or, Nazariteship. Nazir is one separated from the common state and libertie of this life, with speciall dedication of himselfe unto God; whereof there were some who were separated by a voluntary vow, for a certaine time of their owne setting, (concerning which the Law determineth nothing) and some were Nazarites for their whole life; such an one was Sampson, Judg. 13. 5. and Samuel, 1 Sam. 1. 11. Of the former sort Moses treateth here, and Luke Act. 21. 23.
V. 5. no rasour] Nor Cisers, for by them the locks might be cut off as well as by a rasour.
V. 6. no dead body] Neither to mourne over it, nor to bury it; the word in the Originall is Soule, but it is taken for the person, and in this case the person is taken for the body; see Levit. 21. 1. in this the Nazarite was like unto the High-priest, Levit. 21. 11.
V. 7. uncleane] See Annot. on Levit. 21. 1.
father] Having vowed himselfe to God, he must preferre his vow to him, above any ceremonious observances to his neerest kindred, Matth. 8. 21, 22.
upon his head] The suffering of his haire to grow, was a signe of his consecration to God.
V. 9. shave his head] His haire by the dead being legally defiled.
seventh day] From the pollution; for by the dead body an uncleannesse was contracted or caused for seven dayes, Numb. 19. 11. and on the seventh day, he that was before ceremonially uncleane, was ceremoniously cleansed, vers. 12.
V. 11. hallow his head] Beginning his vow againe the eighth day, when he is purified; for the dayes that were before shall be lost, because his separation was desiled: vers. 12.
V. 14. be shall offer] Upon a sudden, unwitting, and unwilling defilement by the dead, the Nazarite was to offer for his purging, vers. 10. but though he knew nothing by himselfe, he must end his vow with manifold oblations; among which a sinoffering must be one, since no votarie is so sincere, and precise, but he may offend, though he knew it not; and therefore by this he did acknowledge himselfe a sinfull man.
V. 18. as the doore] Publiquely, to testifie that now his vow was at an end.
in the fire] Some take this fire to be the fire of the Altar; others think it was the fire of the kitchen which served to boyle the peace-offerings; which yet was no profane fire, though not so holy as that of the Altar; for the haire which was consecrated to the Lord might not be put into any profane place: and this sheweth that the whole man should be holy to the Lord, even to an haire; as his providence reacheth to the numbering of our haires, Matth. 10. 30.
V. 19. sodden shoulder] The right shoulder was due to the Priest raw, Levit. 7. 32. but in the offering, he was to have the left shoulder sodden, and this was his peculiar portion of the Ram of the Nazarite, which in other oblations was not his due.
V. 20. wave-offering] See Annot. on Exod. 29. 24.
after that] Not after the terme of his vow, but after the performances formerly required for his release; for as his vow was made solemnly to God, so he cannot be fairely discharged of it, without a solemne dismission from God.
drinke wine] Though wine onelyonly be mentioned, yet is he for other particulars of the vow of a Nazarite restored to his libertie, as before he vowed.
V. 21. besides that] At least he shall doe this, if he be able to doe no more.
V. 23. on this wise] Or thus in a set forme of words.
ye shall blesse] See Annot. on vers. 24.
V. 24. The Lord blesse] It is ye shall blesse in the precedent verse; the Priests blessing was Optative, and yet it was more then an ordinary praying; because it was a part of their Priestly calling to blesse in the name of the Lord, or by his command, Deut. 21. 5. and for that they had with the command a promise, vers. 27. of this Chapter.
V. 27. put my Name] They shall pray in my Name for them.
CHAP. VII.
Vers. 3. COvered wagons] That the people might not see what was carried in them, and that the carriages might not be hurt by raine, or haile, or snow.
V. 8. sonnes of Merar] That is, because to them was committed the woodden worke, or heavlest part of the Tabernacle; which required the more assistance both of Carts and Oxen. See Annot. on Chap. 3. vers. 36.
V. 9. their shoulders] See Annot. on Chap. 4. vers. 15.
V. 10. for dedicating] That is, when the Priests first sacrifice was offered upon the Altar by Aaron, Levit. 9. 1.
V. 11. dedicating of the Altar] The Altar of the whole burnt-offerings, which was anointed, as the vessels of the Sanctuary were; but besides that, it had an especiall dedication, and that was by daily anointing and oblation of sacrifice, according to the prescript, Exod. 29. 36, 37. therefore for the dedication of the Tabernacle, (but especially of the Altar,) did the Princes daily present their oblations.
V. 12. offered his offering] This offering was made the first day, of the first monethmonth, of the second yeare, when the Tabernacle was erected and consecrated, Exod. 40. 18. though the mention of it (for speciall cause no doubt, albeit it appeare not unto us) be brought in in this place: they offered in the same order wherein they encamped about the Tabernacle and each chiefe Captaine offered not for himselfe onelyonly, but for his Tribe; and every one is called Prince but the first, whereof the reason may be, for that having the honour to be the first, it could not be doubted but that the title was due unto him, as well as to the rest.
V. 13. silver chargers] These were not for the use of the Sanctuary, (where were used golden vessels onelyonly) but for some service of the Court, or Altar of burnt-offerings, as for the shoulder and the breast of the sacrificed beasts, and the offerings of meale, and oyle, and wine, &c.
V. 14. gold] As the principall persons, so the principall things, are not too good for the service of God.
V. 84. the dedication] This was the offering of the Princes, when Aaron did dedicate the Altar.
in the day] That is, in the time; for this dedication continued for twelve yeares.
V. 87. meat-offering] By the Law every burnt-offering was to have a meat-offering, of flowre, and oyle mingled, and wine for a drink-offering, whereof see Numb. 15. vers. 3, 4, 5.
V. 89. betweene] According as he had promised, Exod. 25. vers. 22.
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 2. OƲer against] On every side of the bulke, or shaft of the candlestick; there was no window in the Tabernacle, therefore there was need of artificiall lights.
V. 4. beaten worke] Beaten out of one piece, and not made up of divers pieces; Of this candlestick, see Exod. 25. 31. & Chap. 37. 17.
V. 6. cleanse them] All the nation was to be holy, Exod. 19. vers. 6. but especially they who were to make so neere approach unto him, as the Levites, Levit. 10, 3.
V. 7. water of purifying] In Hebrew it is called the water of sinne, because it is made to purge from sinnes; it was mixt with the ashes of a red Cow, Chap. 19. 9.
V. 10. the children] Meaning some of the chiefe among them, in the name of the whole.
their hands] The imposition of hands was used in benedictions, and ordinations, not onelyonly in the Old Testament, as Gen. 48. vers. 17. 20. Numb. 27. 23. but in the New: See Act. 6. 6. & Chap. 13. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 14. 2 Tim. 1. 6. The peoples putting their hands upon the Levites, was partly to testifie that they gave up all carnall and worldly respects and interests in them, and bequeathed them wholly to God, and that they did approve of their office in behalfe of themselves in whose stead they stood in the performance of many of their ministrations.
V. 12. thou shalt offer] By Aaron the High-priest, who was to offer the Levites, vers. 11. or it might be Moses himselfe, who might therefore be numbred among the Priests, Psal. 99. 6.
V. 15. go… in, to doe] The service of the Levites in the Tabernacle, strictly and properly taken, was but to take, and carry the things of the Tabernacle; but here the Tabernacle is taken more largely, not onelyonly for the curious worke, which was carried from place to place, but for the outward Court, where stood the Altar of burnt-offering; where the Levites were to be serviceably assistant to the Priests in their office; but otherwise into the Sanctuary came onelyonly the Priests to minister, and not the Levites.
V. 19. the service of] Which service the Israelites should doe themselves, if the Levites did it not for them.
Sanctuary] Because the Levites goe into the Sanctuary in their name, as well as in their owne.
V. 21. offered] Heb. lifted them up. The word is the same which is used of lifting up of oblations, Exod. 29. 28. and it may be the ceremonie was the same; at least the Levites were set up in eminent view, that all might see them when they entered upon their function, which it may be they did not all at once, at the first consecration of them, but so many as the service of the Tabernacle for the present required.
V. 24. twenty and five] At that time they were entered into the Tabernacle, to be trained up, both by institution, and example; and at thirty yeares of age, they were to officiate and undertake the execution of their charge.
V. 25. cease] From such services as were toylesome, and required much strength of body to undergoe them.
V. 26. But shall minister] In singing Psalmes, instructing, counselling, and keeping things in order; for such offices they might doe so much the better, as yeares and experience made them the wiser.