NOTES for Num 6:1-27

What does it mean to “dedicate oneself to God,” and why is it necessary? Judging from the description of the Nazirite vow in today's chapter, for the ancient Israelites it meant promising God not to defile themselves and to refrain from sin for a certain time, aided by abstinence from wine (although, of course, the symbolism of wine here is much deeper; nor should we forget the uncut hair—see the story of the Nazirite Samson in the book of Judges). Such a vow, then, is a period of the greatest holiness possible for a given person, whose source and purpose is becoming like God. We can see this purpose not only in the lives of people such as the prophet Samuel and John the Baptist (they, too, were Nazirites), but also in the evangelist's words about the Last Supper, when the Lord solemnly makes a vow: “I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom” (Matt 26:29), dedicating Himself for all who will be called to sanctification in the truth (John 17:19).