"...he must abstain from wine and alcoholic drink." (Num. 6:3)
The nazir is on a spiritually even higher level than the High Priest….
In connection with the words "a display of superior wisdom" (Num. 6:2) I have already explained (on Leviticus 21:10) what the High Priest represented. Here the Torah teaches that the nazir is on a spiritually even higher level than the High Priest. The High Priest's dominating attribute is that of chesed, whereas the predominant attribute of the nazir is bina, which is ranked higher than chesed in the list of sefirot.
Seeing he is "crowned" with this attribute the Torah calls such a person "nazir", a reference to the "nezer" [Hebrew for "crown"] worn by the High Priest. This is the meaning of the words "the crown of his G-d is on his head". (ibid. 6:7) Because of all this, "a razor shall not cross his head" (ibid. 6:5) "the growth of his hair on his head shall continue growing", (ibid. 5) "his head shall be sanctified". (ibid. 6:11)
All of this is subsumed under the heading "a display of superior wisdom". Converting such wisdom into something concrete requires the attribute bina. This is described in the Torah by the words "to make a vow". (ibid. 6:2) The part of the brain in which vows originate is the part where the attribute bina is located.
[Selected with permission from the seven-volume English
edition of "The Torah Commentary of Rebbeinu Bachya" by
Eliyahu Munk.]
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
1 Comment
