In the land of Canaan, lived a man named Josiah who heard the instructions of Jehovah echoing in his heart so vividly. Josiah stepped forward, proclaiming his dedication to Jehovah, he took on the special vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto the Almighty. No wine nor strong drink would meet his lips, nor vinegar, nor any juice made from the grape. He denied himself even the sweet taste of fresh or dried grapes, and nothing made from the vine, since those were strictly forbidden during the time of his separation.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and throughout this time, Josiah maintained his vow with resolute determination. With each passing day, his hair grew longer, uncut by a razor, a physical symbol of his commitment to God. He avoided contact with the dead and made sure he didn’t break his vow even in the face of familial death. His commitment was unbroken, for he was holy unto Jehovah.
One day, a man collapsed and died beside Josiah. Suddenly, unwittingly, Josiah was unclean according to his Nazirite vow. Following the law, he shaved his head on the seventh day, marking his cleansing from the inadvertent contamination. On the eighth day, he brought two turtle doves to the priest at the tent of meeting. One bird was for his sin offering, the other for a burnt offering. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, Josiah was cleansed and his vow remained unbroken.
Once the days of his separation were fulfilled, Josiah was led to the door of the tent of the meeting. There he offered an oblation unto Jehovah, a she-lamb a year old without blemish for a sin-offering, a he-lamb for a burnt-offering, and a ram for peace-offerings. He also brought a basket of unleavened bread, cakes mingled with oil, and their meal and drink offerings.
The priest presented this before Jehovah, offering the sin and burnt offerings, and the sacrifice of peace-offerings with unleavened bread. Now cleansed and holding up his vow, Josiah was allowed to drink wine again.
At the door of the tent of meeting, he shaved his head and placed his hair on the fire, a symbol of his fulfilled vow. The priest took the boiled shoulder of the ram and an unleavened cake and wafer from the basket, placed them on Josiah’s hands and waved them before Jehovah, completing the ceremony.
This was the law of the Nazirite, Josiah adhered to it, fulfilling his vows and separation to God.
Jehovah then informed Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the children of Israel. A blessing that would renew their spirits, a blessing that would invoke peace, favor, and grace. “Jehovah bless thee and keep thee, Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace.” Thus, in adhering to their law, Josiah, the priests, and the children of Israel were blessed beyond measure, securing the favor of the Almighty.
