Nazarite: (Heb. form Nazirite), the name of such Israelites as took on them the
vow prescribed in
(Numbers 6:2-21) The word denotes generally one who is
separated from others and consecrated to God. Although there is no
mention of any Nazarite before Samson, yet it is evident that they
existed before the time of Moses. The vow of a Nazarite involved
these three things,1. abstinence from wine and strong drink,
2. refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole
period of the continuance of the vow, and
3. the avoidance of contact with the dead.
When the period of the continuance of the vow came to an end, the
Nazarite had to present himself at the door of the sanctuary with
1. a he lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering,
2. a ewe lamb of the first year for a sin-offering, and
3. a ram for a peace-offering.
After these sacrifices were offered by the priest, the Nazarite cut
off his hair at the door and threw it into the fire under the
peace-offering. For some reason, probably in the midst of his work at
Corinth, Paul took on himself the Nazarite vow. This could only be
terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up the hair which
till then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been allowable
for persons at a distance to cut the hair, which was to be brought up
to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed. This Paul did at
Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage into Syria
(Acts 18:18)
On another occasion
(Acts 21:23-26) at the feast of Pentecost, Paul
took on himself again the Nazarite vow. "The ceremonies involved took
a longer time than Paul had at his disposal, but the law permitted a
man to share the vow if he could find companions who had gone through
the prescribed ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their
company. This permission was commonly granted if the new comer paid
all the fees required from the whole company (fee to the Levite for
cutting the hair and fees for sacrifices), and finished the vow along
with the others. Four Jewish Christians were performing the vow, and
would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid their expenses.
Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the last seven days of the
vow began he went with them to live in the temple, giving the usual
notice to the priests that he had joined in regular fashion, was a
sharer with the four men, and that his vow would end with theirs.
Nazarites retired to the temple during the last period of seven days,
because they could be secure there against any accidental defilement"
(Lindsay's Acts). As to the duration of a Nazarite's vow, every one
was left at liberty to fix his own time. There is mention made in
Scripture of only three who were Nazarites for life, Samson, Samuel,
and John the Baptist
(Judges 13:4,5; 1 Samuel 1:11; Luke 1:15) In its ordinary
form, however, the Nazarite's vow lasted only thirty, and at most one
hundred, days. This institution was a symbol of a life devoted to God
and separated from all sin, a holy life.
(See RECHABITES)
