he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 3. Drunk. Hebrew shecar, may signify old or palm wine. Leviticus 10:9.—Drink. Hebrew “of shecar,” which was a clear wine, with perhaps a mixture of sugar.—Vinegar was a common beverage among the ancients. Plin. xiv. 16. Ruth 2:14. The soldiers gave our Saviour some of theirs to drink. The Turks, who are not allowed to drink wine of the grape, make use of various other sorts of made wine.—Grape, or the liquor procured from grapes, with a mixture of water, after they have served already to make wine. This liquor is called secondary wine by the Greeks, ( Menochius.) being designed for labourers in winter. Varro 54, and Columella xii. 40. Grapes of every description are forbidden to the Nazarites, as they either tend to inebriate, or at least are too luxurious. Bible.—God deigns to give those a rule who voluntarily consecrate themselves to his service. “What do the Nazarites designate, but the life of those who abstain, and are continent.” Saint Gregory Mor. xxxii. 23. Worthington.