1. The Lord said to Moses,
2. “Tell the Israelites: ‘If men or women want to promise to belong to the Lord in a special way, they will be called Nazirites.
3. During this time, they must not drink wine or beer, or vinegar made from wine or beer. They must not even drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.
4. While they are Nazirites, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, even the seeds or the skin.
5. “ ‘During the time they have promised to belong to the Lord, they must not cut their hair. They must be holy until this special time is over. They must let their hair grow long.
6. During their special time of belonging to the Lord, Nazirites must not go near a dead body.
7. Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not touch them, or they will become unclean. They must still keep their promise to belong to God in a special way.
8. While they are Nazirites, they belong to the Lord in a special way.
9. “ ‘If they are next to someone who dies suddenly, their hair, which was part of their promise, has been made unclean. So they must shave their head seven days later to be clean.
10. Then on the eighth day, they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.
11. The priest will offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. This removes sin so they will belong to the Lord. (They had sinned because they were near a dead body.) That same day they will again promise to let their hair grow