An Israelite Self-Offering in the Priestly Code: A New Perspective on the Nazirite

Scholars have long struggled to make sense of the Nazirite. A major difficulty in understanding the biblical description has been that it seems to be defined almost entirely in negative terms--that is, it is clear what is forbidden to the Nazirite, but it is not clear why. It is proposed below that the key to understanding the Nazirite is to see him as both officiant and offering: one who offers himself symbolically by growing his hair in ritual purity, abstaining from grape products as a priest refrains from drinking wine while engaged in Temple service and then immolating his hair in the Temple precincts. The essence of Naziriteship is the offering of oneself symbolically by offering one's hair, a symbol of the self in many cultures; in order to prepare this sacrifice the Nazirite must observe the prohibitions listed in Numbers 6, the same prohibitions which apply to priests engaged in Temple service and to sacrifices offered there. Evidence is offered to show that the concept of Nazirite as both officiant and offering underlies a number of biblical texts and is explicit or implied in several postbiblical writings as well.