Obedience: This section out of Numbers is an astonishing area of the Penta-teuch where the children of Israel dutifully carry out all that the LORD said. Whether it was the census or the encampment, the redemption of the first born or the removal of the unclean, the Passover observation or travelling under the direction of the LORD, they did “according to all which the LORD commanded Moses” (1:54)[1]. This period at Sinai was marked by a surprising degree of obedience. But this was only the calm before the storm. An all-out rebellion was just around the corner (14:1-4, 10). Israel was uncircumcised of heart (Lev. 26:41); defection followed soon after this short-lived compliance.

Dedication: Even though all of Israel were to be dedicated to the LORD and to abstain from all manner of uncleanness[2], God designated a way for individuals to voluntarily make a special dedication to be “holy to the LORD” (6:8). Both men and women (6:2) were allowed to make this Nazirite vow for a fixed number of days (6:13) to abstain from every grape product (6:3-4), the cutting of hair (6:5), and nearness to a corpse, even that of a loved one (6:6-7). Their devotion to God was to rise above all else. Then when those days ended, they were to cut their hair and offer it to the LORD (6:13, 18) along with many other prescribed sacrifices (6:14-16). The Nazirite vow symbolized the wholehearted dedication the LORD desired of all His people. Some made this symbolic and external vow (Judg. 13:5), but it was Jesus who proved to be truly devoted to the LORD from the heart.[3] Jesus is the true Israel and Nazirite.

[1] Cf. also 2:33, 34; 3:51; 4:49; 5:4; 8:20, 22; 9:5, 23; 10:13.

[2] Lev. 15:31 called all of Israel to separate from uncleanness. “Separate” is the hifil form of the verb na-zar (נָזַר) translated as “separate,” “abstain,” and “dedicate” in Num. 6:1-12. “Nazirite” comes from this verb.

[3] Cf. Matt. 26:39; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-39; 17:4; 18:11; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 10:5-7.