重要的拿細耳人誓約在本章有詳細的說明。「拿細耳」一詞源自希伯來文的「nazar」，意思是「奉獻」或「分別」。許願作拿細耳人是一個人自願過分別為聖歸耶和華的生活（6︰8），表達他對上帝的愛和奉獻。一旦立了這個最重要的誓，它就具有約束力。不論男人和女人都可以在一生當中選擇一段時間作拿細耳人（如參孫和施洗約翰）。耶穌並非拿細耳人（Nazarite）；祂的生命已經完全、聖潔、被分別為聖了。耶穌是拿撒勒人（Nazarene），意思是從拿撒勒城來的人。

        拿細耳人不能吃喝象徵喜樂的葡萄和葡萄酒，他們的喜樂只從上帝而來。他們也不能剃頭，頭髮是他們分別歸上帝，過聖潔生活的記號。他們不能碰死屍，那會使他們被玷污，因為死是罪的結果（創2︰17）。拿細耳人離俗的日子滿了後，要向上帝獻好幾種祭，雖然很昂貴，但似乎可以由別人代付（徒21︰24），所以，即使窮人也有辦法滿足律法的要求。此外，他們在作拿細耳人這段時期留長的頭髮也要拿來獻祭焚燒（6︰18），表達出一個完全奉獻給上帝的生命，也象徵拿細耳人已將自己獻上，「當作活祭，是聖潔的，是上帝所悅納的」（羅12︰1）。使徒保羅一定瞭解拿細耳誓言深刻的屬靈意義，因為他自己也發了拿細耳誓言（徒18︰18；21︰24）。

        民數記第六章有一段聖經裡最美、最有名的祝福語之一。這段祝福語是上帝親自交代摩西的，而摩西則要教導亞倫和他的兒子，使他們用這段話祝福所有以色列人。在這首美麗的希伯來小詩中，每一段都強調以色列之上帝的名字（Yahweh）。以色列人要公開承認上帝之名，因為那是他們作獨一聖潔上帝之民的見證。然後上帝就應許要祝福他們（6︰27）。這首三行祝福詩中，每一行都應許了兩重福氣︰「願耶和華賜福給你，保護你」（6︰24）──他們將從上帝得到一切美好之物，並被保護不受任何傷害（被保守在祂慈愛的膀臂中）；「願耶和華使祂的臉光照你，賜恩給你」（6︰25）──他們將快樂、得真正的生命（箴16︰15）、被悅納、蒙恩惠；「願耶和華向你仰臉，賜你平安」（6︰26）──上帝將特別注意、看顧他們。最後之福──Shalom（音沙龍）──被翻作「平安」。「Shalom」有很寬廣的意義，包括︰健康、滿足、安全、友誼、完全的幸福，和最重要的，內在的平安，及唯上帝能賜的屬靈福氣（弗1︰3）。

        要從上帝得福，我們首先必須公開、不以為恥的承認祂的名（6︰27），並要遠離罪惡，像拿細耳人一樣完全歸上帝為聖。你可能要放棄生活中某些短暫的逸樂（好像拿細耳人與酒絕緣），但結果所帶來在主裡永遠的喜樂，遠超任何世上的快樂。

        主耶和華，施恩使我們脫離任何不潔的事，並且，讓我們不只脫離罪污，且進一步將自己分別出來歸屬您的旨意和計畫。謝謝您在我們的服事中賜給我們的福氣。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        The very important Nazerite vow of consecration is detailed in this chapter. The word “Nazarite” comes from the Hebrew verb “nazar”, meaning “to dedicate” or “to separate”. It was a voluntary expression of love and devotion to God by living a holy life, which is separated to Him (6:8). Once this most serious vow was made, it became obligatory and binding. Both men and women could choose to become Nazarites for a certain period of time or for life (e.g. Samson and John the Baptist). Jesus was not a Nazarite; His life was already perfect, holy and sanctified. He was a “Nazarene”, meaning someone who came from the city of Nazareth.

        The Nazarites were not to drink or eat from nay fruit of the vine, which symbolized joy; rather their joy was to come from God alone. Also, they were not to cut their hair; this would distinguish them as being separated to God for a life of holiness. They were not to touch any dead body, causing them to become defiled, for death is the result of sin (Gen.2:17). At the end of the period of separation, there were to be several offerings to the Lord which were very costly, but it seems they could be paid for by others (Acts 21:14); therefore, even the poor could find the means to fulfill that which was required. It also included the burning of his or her hair (6:18), which had grown during the specified time period. This was a further expression of a life totally committed to God and symbolized that the Nazarite had, in a sense, offered himself as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Rom.12:1). The Apostle Paul must have understood the deep spiritual significance of this vow, for he himself took a Nazarite vow (Acts 18:18; 21:24).

        Numbers 6 has one of Scripture’s most beautiful and famous blessings. The Lord taught it to Moses who, in turn, was to teach Aaron and his sons, so that with it they might bless all the children of Israel. In all three sections of this lovely Hebrew poem, the Lord’s name (Yahweh) is emphasized. The Israelites were to openly declare the Name of God, for it was to be put on them as a witness to the one and only Holy God; then God promised to bless them (6:27). Each of the three lines of this benediction promises two blessings: “The Lord bless you and keep you” (6:24) – they would receive all good things from God and be protected from any harm (kept safe in His loving arms); “The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you” (6:25) – they would be happy and granted real life (Prov.16:15), be acceptable, favored, and shown mercy; “The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace: (6:26) – God would give special attention and care for their good. The final blessing is that of “shalom”, translated “peace’; this is a comprehensive term meaning: wholeness, health, contentment, security, friendship, total well-being and, most importantly, inner peace with God and spiritual blessings which can come only from Him (Eph.1:3).

        To receive blessings from God, we first need to openly and unashamedly put His Name upon ourselves (6:27), and to separate ourselves from sin, like the Nazarite who became totally consecrated to Him. This may mean giving up certain fleeting pleasures of life (like the fruit of the vine for the Nazarite), but the joy of the Lord that results, and the joy everlasting, far outweighs any earthly pleasures.

        Lord, Jehovah, grant us Your grace to separate ourselves from any unclean thing, and not just from some things, but grant us to be separated to Your will and purpose. Thank You for Your blessings as we serve You.