11.26.2005

Talmud and Advent, part 2

Gabriel tells Zach that his son John can't drink wine or strong drink (Luke 1:15).

This may or may not make John a Nazarite (Numbers 6:3), but I found Lightfoot amusing here:

"There was, as the doctors [Jewish scribes] call it, 'the wine of command (yayin mitzvah)' which they were bound by precept to drink. Such was 'that wine of the tithes,' Deut. 12:17-18, that was commanded to be drunk at Jerusalem, and the cup of wine to be drunk at the Passover. What must the Nazarite do in this case? If he drink, he violates the command of his order; if he do not drink, he breaks the command about tithes and the laws of his fathers. [Jewish scribes quote]: 'Let Elijah untie this knot then he comes.' "

So John came fasting and ranting and they didn't accept him. Jesus came eating and drinking with sinners and they called Him a glutton and drunkard (Matt 11:19). Turns out, you can't win, with some people.

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