Bamidbar 6: Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

Chapter six discusses the aesthetic lifestyle of the Nazir. The word nazir means to remove oneself (Rashi). The most famous Nazir is Shimshon, but Shimshon was more of the exception than the rule for a Nazir. the Nazir could be anyone as the this chapter details. Men, women, anyone who accepted this lifestyle upon themselves for a certain period of time. There are two types of Nazirs- there is a temporary one. Someone can set a length of time for their Nazir term to be. Shimshon was an eternal Nazir. That type of nazir must remain one forever. This chapter deals with the end of the term process. The Nazir must bring a sin offering. Why should they bring a sin offering? The answer depends on how one looks at the Nazir commitment. If the Nazir is looked at as the ultimate expression and connection to God, then the sin offering is brought because the individual could not stay a nazir for long. God may also not like the concept of a Nazir. God wants his people to be fully engaged in life, not removed from it. But, just like korbanot are linked to a contemporary need for animal sacrifice, God also wanted to give expression to those who wanted to take on an aesthetic lifestyle. Because this is not ideal, the person must bring a sin offering. At the same time, they person brings a shlamim offering of thanksgiving. In both cases the nazir brings this offering as a thank you to God for giving them the opportunity to live an aesthetic life. If the Nazir is the ideal situation, the Nazir is thanking God for the opportunity for having experienced such an ideal. If it is frowned upon, then the Nazir is thanking God for the opportunity to express themselves in a way that may not be the way God wants, but is the religious expression that the individual wants.