Diggin in da Word
New Member
Brother Bob,
Many would say that John the Baptist is not a good excuse for the case of abstinence, as he was a Nazarite from birth.
It is interesting that when going over the Nazarite vows, one can see that John may not have been a Nazarite as supposed.
The Nazarite vows were more than abstaining from wine and strong drink, they also could not cut their hair (we find no command that John was forbidden to cut his hair), they were forbidden to eat any thing at all from the vine (John was not given such command, although we know his diet was locust's and wild honey), they were forbidden to be near a dead body (I can not find that command given for John).
Zaccharias was not given instructions as to John following the Nazarite vows completely, so I do not believe verse 15 is referring to a Nazarite vow.
Many would say that John the Baptist is not a good excuse for the case of abstinence, as he was a Nazarite from birth.
It is interesting that when going over the Nazarite vows, one can see that John may not have been a Nazarite as supposed.
The Nazarite vows were more than abstaining from wine and strong drink, they also could not cut their hair (we find no command that John was forbidden to cut his hair), they were forbidden to eat any thing at all from the vine (John was not given such command, although we know his diet was locust's and wild honey), they were forbidden to be near a dead body (I can not find that command given for John).
Zaccharias was not given instructions as to John following the Nazarite vows completely, so I do not believe verse 15 is referring to a Nazarite vow.