Blessing of Torah.
Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed!
Baruch ata YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, v’na-tan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Bless YHVH the blessed One; Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity. Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.)
We are still busy with Parashat 35“ Nasso” –to lift up or Make an Accounting– of what? A set apart priesthood. This week we are dealing with the Nazarite vow. This was a voluntary act of service to YHVH.
YHVH will always have a priesthood even if it is a very small remnant that will raise and keep the banner high of His Righteousness as revealed through His Son Messiah – Yahshua. This is true even in the light of a falling away and increasing unfaithfulness of His people – Yisrael.
This Torah portion gives an account of the Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow is not a cure for our unfaithfulness but a prevention of it. This portion followed the law of a jealous husband and was considered by some sages to be the righteous response of an aggrieved or suspicious husband towards his unfaithful wife
Difference between Netzer and Nazir:
“A nazirite (nazir) was a person consecrated to YHVH either from birth, such as Samson or Samuel; or for a limited time. A Nazarite (נְזִיר) was an Israelite who had taken special vows of dedication to YHVH whereby he abstained for a specified period of time from using alcohol and grape products, cutting his/her hair, and approaching corpses. At the end of the period he/she was required to immerse themselves in water. Thus the baptism of Yahshua (Matthew 3:13-15) by Yochanan/John the immersor could have been done "to fulfil all righteousness" at the ending of a nazirite vow. Following his immersion, the scriptures give no reason to suppose Yahshua took another nazirite vow until the last Pesach seder Yahshua shared with his talmidim/disciples-see Mark 14:25”
Nazareth Heb. “Natsaret” the root verb “natsar” means to guard. The same Hebrew letters “netser” means branch. The Jews called the early followers of Yahshua “Notsrim” or Nazarenes. We can deduce from this Hebrew word usage that the true believers in Yahshua, then and now were destined to guard and protect the Truth and the Torah. This was the destiny of the “grafted in” branches - Notzrim. Branches of a tree reveal that they are been sustained by a root system which cannot be seen.
“Branches” therefore reveal the deep mysteries of YHVH and His Kingdom. See Rom 11:17-20.
“The second writings (New Testament) uses "Nazarene" six times, while "Nazorean" is used 13 times. In the Book of Acts "Nazorean" is used to refer to a follower of Yahshua, i.e. a follower of Yahshua rather than an inhabitant of a town.”
Act 24:5 “For having found this man a plague, who stirs up dissension among all the Yehuḏim throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Natsarenes,
Jer 31:6 “For there shall be a day when the watchmen(Notzrim) cry on Mount Ephrayim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Tsiyon, to יהוה our Elohim.’ ”
Our Torah portion begins:
Num 6:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 6:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When a man or woman does separate, by making a vow of a Nazirite, to be separate to יהוה,
ב דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם: אִישׁ אוֹ-אִשָּׁה, כִּי יַפְלִא לִנְדֹּר נֶדֶר נָזִיר--לְהַזִּיר, לַיהוָה. 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall make an extraordinary vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to consecrate himself unto the LORD,
H6381 pâlâ' BDB Definition:1) to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action
Note a man or a woman could take a nazarite vow. The sages suggest that we should understand this in the light of the law of sotah. Others suggest that woman were given far greater roles of spiritual responsibility than what is commonly accepted. We see for example in Shemot/Exodus 38:8 that certain woman were placed as guards at the entrance of the tabernacle (were these woman who had taken a nazarite vow?). I am certain their roles were not just symbolic – example – Anna the prophetess -
Num 6:3 he separates himself from wine and strong drink – he drinks neither vinegar of wine nor vinegar of strong drink, neither does he drink any grape juice, nor eat grapes or raisins.
Num 6:4 ‘All the days of his separation he does not eat whatever is made of the grapevine, from seed to skin.
Num 6:5 ‘All the days of the vow of his separation a razor does not come upon his head. Until the days are completed for which he does separate himself to יהוה, he is set-apart. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.
Num 6:6 ‘All the days of his separation to יהוה he does not go near a dead body.
Num 6:7 ‘He does not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to Elohim is on his head. (requirements of high priest)
Num 6:8 ‘All the days of his separation he is set-apart to יהוה.
Num 6:9 ‘And when anyone dies beside him in an instant, suddenly, and he has defiled the head of his separation, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing – on the seventh day he shaves it.
Num 6:10 ‘And on the eighth day he brings two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 6:11 and the priest shall prepare one as a sin offering the other as a burnt offering, and shall make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead body. And he shall set apart his head on that day,
Num 6:12 and shall separate to יהוה the days of his separation, and shall bring a male lamb a year old, as a guilt offering. But the former days are not counted, because his separation was defiled.
Num 6:13 ‘And this is the Torah of the Nazirite: When the days of his separation are completed, he is brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting, (Shemot 38:8)
Num 6:14 and he shall bring his offering to יהוה: one male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a sin offering, and one ram, a perfect one, as a peace offering,
Num 6:15 and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened thin cakes anointed with oil, and their grain offering with their drink offerings.
Num 6:16 ‘And the priest shall bring them before יהוה and prepare his sin offering and his burnt offering.
Num 6:17 ‘And he shall prepare the ram as a peace offering to יהוה, together with the basket of unleavened bread. And the priest shall prepare its grain offering and its drink offering.
Num 6:18 ‘And the Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall take the hair from the head of his separation and shall put it on the fire which is under the slaughtering of the peace offering.
Num 6:19 ‘And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened thin cake, and put them upon the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his hair of separation.
Num 6:20 ‘Then the priest shall wave them, a wave offering before יהוה. It is set-apart for the priest, besides the breast of the wave offering and besides the thigh of the contribution. And afterwards the Nazirite shall drink wine.’
Num 6:21 “This is the Torah of the Nazirite who vows to יהוה the offering for his separation, and besides that, whatever else his hand is able to provide. According to the vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the Torah of his separation.
“In the Apostolic scriptures, Paul takes a Nazarite vow in Acts 18:18. It has not always been recognized as a Nazarite vow because rather than say, "He let his hair grow long," the text says, "He had his hair cut off because of a vow he had taken." We would assume that if he were taking a Nazarite vow, he certainly would not have his hair cut off. This mistake may stem from a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Nazarite's hair. The hair of the Nazarite both symbolically and literally represented the amount of time that the Nazarite spent under the vow. When the term of the Nazarite's vow was completed, he cut his hair and burned it in the Temple. Burning the hair was a gesture symbolizing that the Nazarite was offering up to YHVH the amount of time he had dedicated to YHVH as a Nazarite. If he had been a Nazarite for only a few months, it would only be a few months' growth. If he had been a Nazarite for several years, it would have been several feet of hair. But in order for the length of hair to accurately represent the term of the vow, the vow must be begun with a shaved head!
Regardless of which situation it is that Paul was in, the terms of the Nazarite vow necessitated that he return to Jerusalem and the Temple to make the necessary offerings and to have his hair shaved in the Temple. Once he arrived in Jerusalem in Acts 21, he joined with four more believers who had also taken Nazarite vows and they went to the Temple together for haircuts and sacrifices. We must remember that Paul did this to prove that he had not departed from the strict observance of the Torah.
The Torah wants us to make a connection between the high priest and Nazarite. Both High Priest and Nazarite enjoy a status of separation called "nezer" which is theirs by virtue of a ritual marking on their heads. For the High Priest it is the anointing oil poured out on his head that grants him the nezer status. For the Nazarite it is the hair on his head that grants him the nezer status.
Concerning Yaakov(Hebrew) the Hebrew equivalent of Jacob, James HaTzaddik, James the righteous, the Brother of Yahshua. Eusebius quotes Hegesippus in his Ecclesiastical History regarding the martyrdom of James (Yaakov). He writes, "James drank no wine or intoxicating liquor and ate no animal food; no razor came near his head; he did not smear himself with oil, and took no baths. He alone was permitted to enter the Set apart Place, for his garments were not of wool but of linen. He used to enter the Set apart place alone, and was often found on his knees beseeching forgiveness for the people..." This text raises an intriguing problem. We find here a very strong and early tradition about (Yaakov) James that places him inside the Temple Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is forbidden to all except for the priesthood. How is it that James, a man descended from the House of David and the tribe of Judah has access to the Sanctuary where only priests are allowed? How is it that we find James clothed in linen garments? that is, priestly garments? praying inside the Temple proper? Is it because James was a Nazarite, and as a Nazarite, he obtained some kind of quasi-priestly status? We must either accept it as so or reject the tradition of Hegesippus all- together.
The astute reader of the Apostolic scriptures will notice an unavoidable parallel between this Joseph midrash and the words of the Master when he says to his disciples, "I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that dapy when I drink it anew with you in My Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:27, NIV).
The Master states the term of his vow at the outset. He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again "until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Thus according to halachah(Hebrew) literally, "walk"; traditional Jewish law concerning specific application of the commandments., Yahshua binds himself to a Nazarite vow at his last seder(Hebrew) literally, "order"; an ordered event, especially the meal eaten on Passover.
The good news accounts tell us that during the execution, Yahshua was twice offered vinegar (literally sour wine). The first time he refuses it. However, at the point of death and ultimate ritual defilement through uncleanness, he accepted it. How is it possible that he would break his vow to not drink of the fruit of the vine? If the vow was a Nazarite vow this can be explained. His vow would be defunct at the point of death because it would be temporarily terminated by his contact with death. Hence he refuses the vinegar earlier, but receives it at the very moment of death. The vinegar and the death are significantly linked. Both sever the vow. Thus the vinegar is symbolic of death and corpse contamination. When the Master accepts the vinegar, it symbolizes his accepting death. A vow severed by corpse contact must be re-entered only after purification. The Master's resurrection is his purification from death. Now our Master ever lives to make intercession for us, while he is seated at the right hand of YHVH. (Heb 7:25)
So, what does this mean to us who are called to lead worship in the assembly of set apart ones? Well, it was the Levites who were tasked with the role of functioning as the singers, musicians and the leaders of the singing in the Tabernacle of David. And, according to Acts 15:16, that revelation of divine order of worship that YHVH gave to King David, is our pattern. So, in the context of YHVH’s historical dealings with them, we can see what the tribe of Levi has been called to and destined to, from Moses, to David to the present. It is a high and noble calling to be a helps minister to the priest. And to be successful in our calling and in our destiny, we must understand our role and how it relates to the rest of the body of Messiah. End quote.
It appears in our day that many believers have allowed themselves to be fashioned after the spirit of this world.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
Sadly the word “nazir” in modern Hebrew means monk. This too has given a wrong idea of what it really means to be set apart. YHVH is not calling us out of this world but He is calling us to be the fragrance of His Messiah in this world. (2Cor 2:15)
Believers need now more than ever to be separated from everything that brings uncleanness into our lives. The Torah enlightened by the Ruach Ha Kodesh will show us the difference between what is right in the Eyes of YHVH and what is not right.
In the renewed temple the Levitical priesthood will once again restore all truth.
Eze 44:23 “And they are to teach My people the difference between the set-apart and the profane, and make them know what is unclean and clean. The Ruach Ha Kodesh will assist us in this matter in the last days.
Isa 55:11 so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.
Finally the Nazarite vow causes us to consider for what reason one should abstain from wine or products containing grapes.
We are reminded that wine was taken in anticipation of the covenant status we are to enjoy with YHVH one day.
Refraining from taking wine was perhaps a way of expressing a longing to be in His presence enjoying the covenant blessing face to face.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the heaven saying, “See, the Booth of Elohim is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim.
Rev 22:14 “Blessed are those1 doing His commands, (Torah) so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you YHVH our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn)