[74] _אני סומך אותך תהיה סמוך Id est Scaligero interprete: Ego tibi impono manum & manus tibi imposita esto. Trihær. c. 5. p. 264. vide etiam Cunæum de Rep. Heb. cap. 12._
[75] _Vide P. Fagium in Scholiis suis ad cap. 4. Pirke Aboth._
[76] _Philo Jud. Quod omnis probus, p. 679._
[77] _Scaliger in Trihæres. cap. 5. Ex. c. 1. Beracoth._
There are two sorts of _Votaries_ mentioned in the Old _Testament_; _Rechabites_, _Jerem. 35._ and _Nazarites_, _Numb. 6._ I find scarce any thing warrantable concerning these two, more than what the Scripture delivereth in the fore-quoted places: therefore concerning the matter of their Vows, I refer the Reader to the aforesaid Texts of Scripture; here only we will note the distinction of _Nazarites_. The first are these _Votaries_, termed so from נזר _Nazar_, to separate, because they separated themselves from three things; _First_, from Wine, and all things proceeding from the Vine. _Secondly_, from the Razor, because they suffered no Razor to come upon their head, but let their hair grow all the dayes of their separation. _Thirdly_, from pollution by the dead: this separation again was twofold, either for a set number of days, or for a mans whole life; that they termed _Naziræatum dierum_, this, _Naziræatum seculi_: of that sort was _Paul_, and those four with him, _Acts 21. 24._ Of this sort was _Sampson_ _Judges 13._ and _John Baptist_. The just number of days, how long the former of these two separated themselves, is not expressed in _Scripture_, but the _Hebrew Doctors_[81] determine them to be thirty, because it is said, _Num. 6. 5._ _Domino sanctus_, יהיה _erit_; which word (say they) containing thirty, expresseth the just number of days to be observed in this voluntary separation. The second sort of _Nazarites_, were so termed from נצר _Natsar_, from whence cometh _Natsareth_, or _Nazareth_, the name of a certain Village in _Galilee_; where Christ was conceived and brought up: Hence our Saviour himself was called a _Nazarene_, or _Nazarite_, _Mat. 2. 23._ and those that embraced his Doctrine, _Nazarites_, _Acts 24. 5._ Afterward certain _Hereticks_ sprung up, who as the _Samaritanes_ joyned _Jewish ceremonies_ with _Heathenish_ Rites: so[82] they joyned together _Christ_ and _Moses_, the _Law_ and the _Gospel_; _Baptism_ and _Circumcision_: of the beginning of these we shall read, _Acts 15. 2._ Then came down certain from _Judæa_, and the brethren, saying, _Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved_. These Hereticks were called _Nazarites_, either of malice by the _Jewes_, to bring the greater disgrace upon _Christian_ religion; or else because at first they were true, though weak _Nazarites_, that is, _Christians_ mis-led by _Peters Judaizing_ at _Antioch_, _Gal. 2. 11._ And hence it is[83] that the _Church_ at _Antioch_, in detestation of this new-bred heresie, fastened upon them by the name of _Nazarites_, forsook that name, and called themselves _Christians_, _Acts 11. 26._ _Symmachus_, that famous Interpreter of the _Old Testament_, was a strong Defender of this heresie, and[84] from him in after times they were named _Symmachiani_. The _Jews_ had them in as great hatred as the _Samaritanes_; whereupon[85] three times every day, at _morning_, _noon-tide_, and _evening_, they closed their Prayers with a solemn execration, _Maledic Domine Nazaræis_. Lastly, another sort of _Nazarites_ there were, so termed from נזר _Nazar_, signifying to _abolish_ or _cut off_;[86] because they did _abolish_ and _cut off_ the five books of _Moses_, rejecting them as not _Canonical_.