1. The Lord said to Moses,
2. “Tell the Israelites: ‘A man or a woman might want to promise to belong to the Lord in a special way. This person will be called a Nazirite.
3. During this time, he must not drink wine or beer. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or beer. He must not even drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.
4. While he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine. He must not even eat the seeds or the skin.
5. “‘During the time he promised to belong to the Lord, he must not cut his hair. He must be holy until this special time is over. He must let his hair grow long.
6. During his special time of belonging to the Lord, a Nazirite must not go near a dead body.
7. Even if his own father, mother, brother or sister dies, he must not touch them. This would make him unclean. He must still keep his promise to belong to God in a special way.
8. While he is a Nazirite, he belongs to the Lord.
9. “‘If he is next to someone who dies suddenly, his hair has been made unclean. It was part of his promise. So he must shave his head seven days later to be clean.
10. Then on the eighth day, he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest. The priest will be at the entrance to the Holy Tent.
11. The priest will offer one as a sin offering. He will offer the other as a burnt offering. This removes sin so the man will belong to God. He had sinned because he was near a dead body. That same day he will again promise to let his hair grow for the Lord.
12. He must give himself to the Lord for another special time. He must bring a male lamb a year old. It will be a penalty offering. The days of the special time before don’t count. This is because he became unclean during his first special time.
13. “‘This is the teaching for a Nazirite. When the promised time is over, he must go to the entrance of the Meeting Tent.