Mitzvah —
226
He must shave after bringing sacrifices upon completion of his Nazirite period
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וְגִלַּ֣ח הַנָּזִ֗יר פֶּ֛תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶת־רֹ֣אשׁ נִזְר֑וֹ וְלָקַ֗ח אֶת־שְׂעַר֙ רֹ֣אשׁ נִזְר֔וֹ וְנָתַן֙ עַל־הָאֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת זֶ֥בַח הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃ - פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא
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Numbers 6:18 - "The nazirite shall shave the head of his naziriteship at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and he shall take the hair of the head of his naziriteship and place it upon the fire which is under the peace offering."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה
At the conclusion of his Nazirite vow, the Nazir must shave his head and place his hair into the fire beneath the korban shelamim.
This mitzvah commands the Nazir to shave his head after completing his period of consecration, as part of the concluding rituals. The hair, grown during the vow as a symbol of holiness, is cut and burned beneath the peace-offering.
The act signifies closure: the Nazir transitions from separation to reentry into ordinary life, offering his period of abstinence to Hashem in a tangible way. The burning of the hair under the korban symbolizes that his consecration has been elevated into service.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Nezirut 8:1): Rules that the shaving and burning of the hair is an essential mitzvah at the conclusion of Nazirut.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 374): Explains that the root is to honor Hashem by completing the vow with a visible act that shows all was for Divine service.
- Talmud (Nazir 45a): Details the procedure of shaving and placing the hair under the shelamim.
- Rashi (Numbers 6:18): Notes that the burning of the Nazir’s hair beneath the korban links his personal consecration with the Temple service.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Nezirut 8:1) teaches that shaving at the end of Nazirut is a required act of obedience. Faith is shown by completing the vow exactly as commanded, affirming that the consecration belonged to Hashem from beginning to end.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 374) explains that the shaving demonstrates awe for Hashem by visibly concluding the period of holiness. Reverence is reflected in not ending the vow casually but with a sacred ritual.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Talmud (Nazir 45a) links the Nazir’s hair to his state of consecration. Burning it beneath the korban shelamim elevates the physical symbol of his holiness into the Temple service itself.
Nazir – נָזִיר
- Rambam identifies the shaving as the defining ritual that completes Nazirut. Without this act, the period of consecration is not formally closed, underscoring its importance in the Nazir’s identity.
Temple – בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ
- Rashi (Numbers 6:18) comments that the Nazir must burn his hair “at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,” connecting the personal vow to the sanctity of the Temple.
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת
- The hair is burned under the fire of the korban shelamim, showing that the Nazir’s personal holiness is joined with the communal sacrificial service, sanctifying his abstinence.
Purity – טָהֳרָה
- By shaving off the consecrated hair, the Nazir transitions from separation back to normal life in purity. The act ensures no trace of the vow lingers improperly once the sacrifices are offered.
Speech – דָּבָר
- The Nazir’s vow, created through words, is concluded through an act — shaving — that physically seals the power of speech. This affirms that words of commitment carry lasting obligations.
Vows / Oaths – נְדָרִים / שְׁבוּעוֹת
- Sefer HaChinuch stresses that vows must be honored in their entirety. The shaving demonstrates the binding power of the Nazir’s oath, closing it through a Torah-prescribed ritual.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- The shaving was done publicly at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. This communal aspect reminded Israel that consecration and its conclusion belong to Hashem, not to private choice.
Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)
- This mitzvah is fully between the Nazir and Hashem. The shaving and burning of the hair signify the sanctity of his vow as a personal offering to G-d, marking completion in direct relationship with the Divine.
