（民06）圣洁与拿细耳人
Holiness and the Nazirite (Numbers 6)
(ChatGPT translation from Chinese, edited by Mijiale, 中文在后面）
Chapters 1-5 of Numbers define various levels of holiness among the Israelites in the wilderness based on their camping positions and distance from the Tabernacle. This ranges from the priests closest to the entrance of the Tabernacle courtyard, to the Levites surrounding the Tabernacle, to the twelve tribes of Israel camped in the outer areas, and finally, the unclean people living outside the camp as described in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, the Bible introduces another group, the Nazirites.
Numbers 6:2-3 records that the Creator instructed Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, If a man or a woman takes an oath to keep himself separate and give himself to the Lord; He must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.”
Therefore, a Nazirite must be among the Creator’s chosen people, but unlike the Levites, they do not need to be descendants of Levi, and unlike the priests, they do not need to be descendants of Aaron. Additionally, both men and women can become Nazirites. Jewish tradition holds that the holiness of a Nazirite is even higher than that of a priest, as noted in Rabbeinu Bahya’s commentary on Numbers 6:3 . I believe this viewpoint is biblically supported. Later, we see that a Nazirite must not become unclean by attending a relative’s funeral (Numbers 6:7), a requirement stricter than that for priests and equivalent to that for the high priest (Leviticus 21). The prohibition against drinking wine parallels the requirement for priests not to drink wine while serving in the sanctuary (Leviticus 10), yet it is stricter for Nazirites as they must also abstain from grape juice.
Why are Nazirites forbidden to consume grape products? I speculate that alcohol might hinder concentration during prayer and scripture study, and those fond of wine might find it hard to resist if they consume grape products. Additionally, this abstinence could represent a voluntary relinquishment of certain pleasures to serve the LORD with greater devotion. Nazirites could take lifelong vows (Judges 13:7) or vows for a specified period (Numbers 6:13).
What can we learn from this? Although we are not descendants of Aaron or Levi, we can choose to forgo certain pleasures for a period to serve the LORD. During such times, we can, in a broad sense, become consecrated like the Nazirites, serving as “priests working in the sanctuary.” For instance, applying Leviticus 10:8-11, Christians should avoid alcohol while engaging in prayer, preaching, teaching the Bible, or providing spiritual counseling. For someone who has enjoyed alcohol from a young age and likes to relax with a drink after work, this can be a greater challenge than for someone who dislikes the taste of alcohol. However, as the Jewish proverb says, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward (Pirkei Avot 5:23) .
References:
•Rabbeinu Bahya on Numbers 6:3: Link
•Pirkei Avot 5: Link
（民06）圣洁与拿细耳人
民数记的1-5章通过以色列人在旷野的安营位置，离会幕的距离，定义了很多不同的圣洁程度，从最靠近会幕院子入口的祭司，到会幕周围的利未人，到在外面四方安营的十二支派以色列人，到第五章讲的住在营外的不洁净的人。到第六章，圣经又介绍了一种拿细耳人。
民数记6:2-3记载，造物主吩咐摩西，“你 晓 谕 以 色 列 人 说 ，无 论 男 女 许 了 特 别 的 愿 ， 就 是 拿 细 耳 人 的 愿 （ 拿 细 耳 就 是 归 主 的 意 思 下 同 ） ，…
他 就 要 远 离 清 酒 浓 酒 ， 也 不 可 喝 什 么 清 酒 浓 酒 作 的 醋 。 不 可 喝 什 么 葡 萄 汁 ， 也 不 可 吃 鲜 葡 萄 和 干 葡 萄 。”
所以这拿细耳人必须是造物主的选民，但除此之外，不需要特别的家庭出身，不需要像利未人那样是利未的后代，也不需要像祭司那样是亚伦的后代，而且男女都可以。但犹太人认为，这拿细耳人的圣洁程度甚至高于祭司，参见
https://www.sefaria.org/Rabbeinu_Bahya%2C_Bamidbar.6.3?lang=bi。
这样的观点我觉得是有圣经根据的。我们后面看到，拿细耳人不能为至亲送葬沾染死尸的不洁净（民6:7），比较利未记21章我们可以看到，这个要求超过了对祭司的要求，与对大祭司的要求相同。而前面提到的不喝酒要求，与祭司在圣所侍奉时不能喝酒的要求一样（利10），而且更严格，拿细耳人连葡萄汁也不能喝。
拿细耳人吃葡萄制品的禁忌有什么原因吗？我猜测，酒精可能使人在祷告读经时难以集中精力，而爱酒的人可能因为吃葡萄制品而忍不住想喝酒。另外，这也可能是为了刻苦己心侍奉主而自愿放弃了一类享受。拿细耳人既可以是终生的（士13:7），也可以是一段时间的（民6:13）。
这对我们有什么启发吗？我们虽然不是亚伦或利未的后代，但是为了侍奉主的原因，可以在某段时间放弃某种享受，这样的时候，我们就可以像拿细耳人那样超越血统进一步归主为圣，在广义上作“在圣所里上班的祭司”。举个例子，应用利未记10:8-11，基督徒在祷告，讲道，教学圣经，或作信仰方面的答疑或辅导，这一类侍奉主的工作的时候，应该避免受酒精的干扰。这对一个从小喜欢吃酒酿，长大了工作之余也爱喝酒放松情绪的人来说，会比原来就不喜欢酒味的人有更大的挑战，但是就像犹太格言所说，更大的挑战背后有更大的奖赏（Pirkei Avot 5:23 https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.5?lang=bi)。