Numbers 6-8

While two of the most well-known men of Bible History, one in the Old Testament, one in the New Testament, lived according to Nazirite rules, either men or women could do so i.e. "either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite."

"And The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to The Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink, and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the time is completed for which he separates himself to The Lord, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. All the days that he separates himself to The Lord he shall not go near a dead body. Neither for his father nor for his mother, nor for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean; because his separation to God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to The Lord." (Numbers 6:1-8 RSV)

The Lord instructed His servants how to bless His people (those who listen to the Sermons here at Daily Bible Study will recognize The Lord's words of that blessing as quoted below - sermons are ended with "May The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: May The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: May The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (King James Version) as The Lord instructed (see Physical and Spiritual Israel).

"The Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

So shall they put My Name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6:22-27 RSV)

Numbers Chapter 7

When The Tabernacle was fully set up, it still required offerings to The Lord from the people, that would be used as offerings to The Lord by the Levites. Note again how only specific Levites were allowed to move the Most Holy articles; anyone else would have been put to death by The Lord - the reason that The Ark Of The Covenant (see also Christ's Mercy Seat) could not have been looted by the Babylonians, or anyone else (see Raiders Of The Lost Ark).

"On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were numbered, offered and brought their offerings before The Lord, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; they offered them before the tabernacle.

Then The Lord said to Moses, "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."

So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things which had to be carried on the shoulder." (Numbers 7:1-9 RSV)

Numbers Chapter 8

The setting up of the lights in the Tabernacle represented the Light of the World (see The Light Of Life and God Is Light)

"Now The Lord said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand." And Aaron did so; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand, as The Lord commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern which The Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand." (Numbers 8:1-4 RSV)

The Levites began their time of service in water (see The Origin of Baptism).

"And The Lord said to Moses, "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of expiation upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves." (Numbers 8:5-7 RSV)

The lower-level Levites generally served from age 25 to 50; they thereafter supervised and taught those who did the work in their place.

"And The Lord said to Moses, "This is what pertains to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to perform the work in the service of the tent of meeting; and from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the work of the service and serve no more, but minister to their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, and they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties." (Numbers 8:23-26 RSV)

Fact Finder: Were there any Nazirites (temporary and life-long) in the New Testament era?
See Nazirites