Ver. 1. And the Lord spake.] Est Venus in vinis: therefore after the law for the privy harlot, here is a law given for abstinence from wine and strong drink, which some have called lac veneris. The whore cometh forth with a cup, (Revelation 17:4) as with a fit instrument.
Ver. 2. To vow a vow.] A voluntary vow, a religious promise made in prayer; hence ευχη, a vow, προσευχη, a prayer. To separate themselves unto the Lord.] As mirrors of singular sobriety and sanctimony, (Lamentations 4:7) especially required in such as are “separated unto the gospel of God,” (Romans 1:1) and as types of Christ, that great votary, true Nazarite, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, (Hebrews 7:26) that holy thing, (Matthew 1:20) that holy of holies, or most holy. (Daniel 9:24)
Ver. 3. He shall separate himself from wine.] Lest he should drink and forget the law, (Proverbs 31:5) which he was to study diligently: but loaden bellies make leaden wits: intemperance takes away the heart, (Hosea 4:11) overchargeth it. (Luke 21:34) Moist grapes or dried.] Dried as raisins, currants, or grapes of Corinth, whence they come, and are called.
Ver. 4. From the kernels even to the tusk.] Nothing that might occasion, or tempt him to break his vow. All shadows and shows of evil must be shunned: Quicquid fuerit male coloratum, as Bernard hath it; whatsoever looks but ill-favoured. (1 Thessalonians 5:22 Jude 1:23) He that would not eat the meat, must not meddle with the broth. He that would not toll the bell, must not tuggle with the rope. He that would shun the blow, must keep aloof from the train.
Ver. 5. There shall no razor.] In opposition to heathens, votaries who nourished their hair to offer to their gods. The popish priests also cut and shave their hair, that they may still look neat and effeminate; which God allowed not in his Nazarites. (Amos 2:11)
Ver. 6. At no dead body.] Christ was never defiled by any person dead in sin, nor by any dead work; no more must we.
Ver. 7. He shall not make himself uncIean.] In all changes he must be unchangeable; so was Christ, so must we.
Ver. 8. He is holy unto the Lord.] With an inward holiness, else all his outward observations were to no purpose.
Ver. 9. And If any man die.] A figure of the involuntary and unavoidable infirmity of the saints, which must be bewailed, as direct fruits of the flesh; and for which there is, through Christ, a pardon of course.
Ver. 10. Two turtles.] See Leviticus 15:14, & c. It is the same expiation with those that had unclean issues.
Ver. 11. For that he sinned by the dead.] Heb., By a soul. See on Numbers 5:2.
Ver. 12. And he shall consecrate.] He shall begin the world anew: so must we, after some foul fall especially: “Repent and do thy first works,” (Revelation 2:5) as the Shulamite did. (Song of Solomon 5:2, &c.)
Ver. 13. And this is the law of the Nazarite.] The third part of it, to teach him thankfulness, that most needful, but much neglected duty.
Ver. 14. And he shall offer his offering.] Though he had fulfilled his vow in the best manner, yet he must come with his sin offering, &c., leading him to Christ, for pardon of failings in the manner; and with his thank offering, for what he had been enabled to do, before he could be released of his Nazariteship.
Ver. 16. And shall offer his sin offering.] Acknowledging thereby, that he had sinned in the most sanctified time and actions of his life; and needed therefore a Saviour.
Ver. 18. And put it in the fire.] To teach us, that the Lord so loveth his children, that he esteemeth the least hair of their head as a precious gift.
Ver. 19. The sodden shoulder,] i.e., The left shoulder; for the right was due unto him raw. (Leviticus 7:32) This taught the Nazarite special thankfulness: dignity requires duty.
Ver. 20. The Nazarite may drink wine.] The Popish votaries will needs fetch colour and approbation for their superstitious vows, from this order of Nazarites. But the abolishing of this ordinance is declared in Acts 21:25, and they are so far from the abstinence of Nazarites, that they eat of the best, and drink of the sweetest: the most generous wine in Louvain and Paris is known by the name of Vinum Theologicum, the divines, those Sorbonists, do so whiff it off.
Ver. 21. Besides that that his hand,] i.e., Beside his voluntary devotion, according to his ability. This he may do; but that he must do, be he poor or rich.
Ver. 23. Ye shall bless the children of Israel.] Praying for them with hands first stretched out to heaven, (Leviticus 9:22) and then laid upon the people; so putting the blessing of God upon them. So Christ did upon his apostles, which was his last action upon earth, (Luke 24:50) and so must all pastors do, that would do good on it, -pray down a blessing on their people.
Ver. 24. The Lord bless thee.] Here some observe the mystery of the holy Trinity. See it explained in 2 Corinthians 13:14.