Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 6:3
He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
3. vinegar ] Prepared from wine and other intoxicants which have gone sour.
liquor of grapes ] Fresh wine, as distinct from the foregoing.
or dried ] Raisins compressed into a cake ( ’ashshh) were a common article of food (2Sa 6:19, Hos 3:1).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3, 4. First regulation. Abstinence from intoxicating liquors and from any produce of the vine, liquid or solid.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. No vinegar of wine, c.] chomets signifies fermented wine, and is probably used here to signify wine of a strong body, or any highly intoxicating liquor. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that the LEPER being the most defiled and loathsome of creatures, was an emblem of the wretched, miserable state of man by the fall and that the NAZARITE was the emblem of man in his state of innocence. Wine and grapes are here particularly forbidden to the Nazarite because, as the doctor thinks, being an emblem of man in his paradisaical state, he was forbidden that tree and its fruits by eating of which Adam fell; for the doctor, as well as the Jewish rabbins, believed the tree of knowledge to have been none other than the vine.
Vinegar of strong drink] See Clarke on Le 10:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lest they should either inflame or dispose him to luxury, and consequently to the breaking of his vow; or cloud his reason, and thereby occasion some mistake or miscarriage in the rules to which he had bound himself. Compare Lev 10:9.
Nor eat moist grapes, or dried; which was forbidden him for greater caution to keep him at the further distance from wine.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
He shall separate [himself] from wine,…. Old or new, as Ben Gersom; from drinking it, any of it: not only from an immoderate and excessive drinking of it, which every man should abstain from, but from drinking of it at all, that he might be more free and fit for the service of God; for prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures, and attendance on the worship of God in all its branches, and be less liable to temptations to sin; for, as Aben Ezra observes, many transgressions are occasioned by wine, which, if drank immoderately, intoxicates the mind, and unfits for religious duties, excites lust, and leads on to many vices:
and strong drink; any other intoxicating and inebriating liquor besides wine, or any other sort of wines besides such that is made of the fruit of the vine, as wines of pomegranates, dates, c. or such as are made of barley, as our ale, or of apples and pears, called cider and perry, respectively:
and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink all the three Targums paraphrase it, vinegar of new wine, and vinegar of old wine, these operating in like manner as wine and strong drink themselves:
neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes; any liquor in which grapes are macerated, as the Targum of Jonathan; or water into which they are squeezed, or which is made of the lees of wine, or is a second sort of wine made of the grapes after they have been pressed, which we call “tiff”:
nor eat moist grapes or dried; which have somewhat of the nature and taste of wine, and produce some of the like effects, and may lead to a desire after drinking it; wherefore this, as other things mentioned, are, as Aben Ezra says, a kind of an hedge, to keep at a distance from drinking wine.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. He shall separate himself from wine. The first injunction is, that they should not only abstain from wine, but that they should not even taste grapes or anything connected with wine. The simple observance was, that they should not drink wine or anything inebriating; but, because men are crafty in inventing subterfuges, it was necessary to express specifically the means whereby the Law might be defrauded. Thus, in abstaining from wine, they would not have deprived themselves of luxuries, either by indulging in fresh or dried grapes, or by mixing water with grapes and expressing their juice, or by imitating the sweetness of wine by other delicate preparations. Hence it appears how many secret recesses and lurking-places are possessed by man’s hypocrisy, whilst it shamelessly imagines stupid means of deception for cheating God himself. But, at the same time, we must remark that this subtlety was intolerable to God, who is pleased by nothing so much as sincerity. We shall also see elsewhere that the priests, when they were executing their office by turns in the Temple, were forbidden the use of wine. This similarity proves what I have already said, that the Nazarites were thus separated from the multitude, that they might approach to the honor of the priesthood. But abstinence from wine was enjoined not only that they might avoid drunkenness, but that their whole mode of living might be more temperate and frugal; for the drinking of wine is well known to be among the chief pleasures of the table, and those who are not abstentious will rather content themselves with moderate and common food than bear to be deprived of wine. We may, then, learn from hence, that a sober use of wine is a most important part of temperate living; and in all gluttony and intemperance, this is most to be condemned, when men have too great a love of excess in wine-drinking. It is then astonishing that when the monks under the Papacy boast of their angelical perfection, they should with one accord refuse to abstain from wine. With many (332) it is sinful to touch during their whole life a bit of beef or pork, and they would glory in being martyrs, if they obstinately preferred to die rather than to eat meat in a case of necessity; but their temperance is so inconsistent, that this austerity as to food acquires for them the greater license in drinking, as if they purposely avenged themselves in this way. (333) Wherefore nothing can be more insufferable than their boasting, since this abstinence in eating alone is a mere mockery of God.
(332) “Aux Chartreux;” with the Carthusian monks. — Fr.
(333) Addition Fr. — Sur le gobelet.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink . . . The law of the Nazirite in this respect, as in regard to defilement from the dead, was more strict than that which was enjoined upon the priests, thus typifying the entire surrender of the heart and life to God, and freedom from the distraction of earthly ties. The ideal of this separation, however, was not that of a life of monastic seclusion, but of action, and of uninterrupted devotion to the Divine service. The priests were forbidden to drink wine, or strong drink, when they entered the tabernacle to perform service there, but were not prohibited the use of wine at other times. Strong drink (shecar) is supposed to have been made of barley and dates or honey. The prohibition to eat any of the produce of the vine, even of that which was not intoxicating, seems designed to denote the entire consecration of the Nazirite to the Divine service, and the obligation which rested upon him to abstain from all the desires and delights of the flesh. The love of cakes made of raisins is coupled in Hos. 3:1 with idolatry.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Wine and strong drink See Lev 10:8-11, notes. This law requiring abstinence from intoxicants is placed next to the law for a defiled or suspected woman, because by drunkenness unchastities frequently come. Gen 19:32-35; Pro 23:31; Pro 23:33.
Vinegar A beverage generally of wine or strong drink (beer and cider) turned sour, but it was sometimes made by the fermentation of a mixture of barley and wine. It was acid even to a proverb, (Pro 10:26,) but was serviceable as a relish with bread, as used by labourers. See Rth 2:14, notes. The Romans called this liquid posca, either pure or mixed with water. Though offered in derision to Jesus on the cross, he drank it, and doubtless found a temporary refreshment amid his dying agonies. Mat 27:48, note. The same beverage drugged with anaesthetics he had previously refused. Mat 27:34, note.
Liquor of grapes Unfermented wine or must.
Moist grapes Fresh.
Dried Raisins. As the fruit of the vine symbolizes all pampering of fleshly appetites which are at war with holiness, it was strictly forbidden to the Nazarite. The grape-cake, a dainty of epicures and debauchees, is mentioned in Hos 3:1, (R.V.) as a sensual bait of idolatry, a luxury not in keeping with the sobriety and purity of the true religion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 6:3. He shall separate himself from wine The first thing from which the Nazarite, engaged to a peculiar holiness of life, was to abstain, is wine and all vinous liquors, that so he might preserve an uninterrupted temperance, and be always fit for sacred services. Respecting the strong drink, see Lev 10:9 and Num 28:7. The word which we render vinegar chametz, signifies fermentation, and might have been so rendered; and shall drink no strong fermentation of wine.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
And was not JESUS separated, and solemnly set apart to the service of his FATHER? Reader, do not forget what JESUS hath said himself, respecting this, of being sanctified or set apart for his people. Joh 17:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 6:3 He shall separate [himself] from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Ver. 3. He shall separate himself from wine. ] Lest he should drink and forget the law, Pro 31:5 which he was to study diligently: but loaden bellies make leaden wits: intemperance takes away the heart, Hos 4:11 overchargeth it. Luk 21:34
Moist grapes or dried.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wine. Hebrew. yayin. See App-27.
strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. See App-27.
liquor of grapes = mashed grapes.
moist = green or “fresh”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Besides the religious nature of this institution, it seems to have been partly of a civil and prudential use. The sobriety and temperance which the Nazarites were obliged to observe were very conducive to health. Accordingly, they were celebrated for their fair and ruddy complexion; being said to be both whiter than milk and more ruddy than rubies – Lam 4:7, the sure signs of a sound and healthy constitution. It may here be observed, that when God intended to raise up Samson, by his strength of body, to scourge the enemies of Israel, he ordered, that from his infancy he should drink no wine, but live by the rule of the Nazarites, because that would greatly contribute to make him strong and healthy; intending, after nature had done her utmost to form this extraordinary instrument of his providence, to supply her defect by his own supernatural power. See Jenning’s Jewish Antiquities, B. I. c. 8. Lev 10:9, Jdg 13:14, Pro 31:4, Pro 31:5, Jer 35:6-8, Amo 2:12, Luk 1:15, Luk 7:33, Luk 7:34, Luk 21:34, Eph 5:18, 1Th 5:22, 1Ti 5:23
Reciprocal: Lev 22:2 – General Jdg 13:4 – drink not Jdg 13:5 – no razor
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 6:3. Separate himself from wine The first is, that every person so devoted should, during the whole time of his vow, taste no wine, nor any thing that had wine in it, nor any inflammatory liquors, which are incitements to lust; that so, by perfect temperance, his mind might be in a fit disposition for every part of the service of God. Vinegar The word , chamets, thus rendered, properly means fermentation, and the clause might have been rendered, shall drink no fermentation of wine. Strong drink Liquor made of dates or other fruit. See Lev 10:9. Nor eat grapes Which he was forbidden to do for greater caution, to keep him at the farther distance from wine.