Holy to Yahweh

Numbers 6 opens with the vow of a Nazirite, from a Hebrew word meaning separated. Any man or woman could make this vow to separate himself to Yahweh. For the length of the vow, the person ate nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins, let no razor come on the head, and did not go near a dead body, even for father, mother, brother, or sister. The long hair was a visible sign of a heart set apart.

If someone died suddenly beside the Nazirite, the consecrated head was defiled. The person shaved on the seventh day, brought two birds on the eighth, and restarted the vow. When the vow was completed, the Nazirite brought burnt, sin, and peace offerings, shaved the consecrated hair at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and put it on the fire under the peace offering. Then he could drink wine again.

The chapter closes with the priestly blessing, given to Aaron for all Israel: Yahweh bless you, and keep you. Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace. Three times the name Yahweh is spoken over the people. So they shall put my name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them. The blessing is God's own gift; the priests only spoke it. Paul writes that God has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).