Verse 7
7. Nazarites Men specially devoted to the service of religion. Such an order of men is recognized and regulated in the Mosaic law, but not called into existence by it. They are mentioned here as specially representative of the nation’s life.
Rubies Rather. corals. Delitzsch ( Psychology, page 75) refers to this place and Song of Solomon 5:10, in proof that red on white the normal colour of the human complexion is the prime colour of beauty. Dean Smith. But who knows this to be the normal colour of the human complexion? And how does such a passage prove it the prime colour of beauty?
Their polishing More literally, their form of sapphire. “The point of comparison is not the colour, but the luminosity, of this precious stone.” Keil.
It would seem that the Nazarites were mentioned as illustrating the sad and painful contrast which the times had wrought. When Israel was at peace and prosperous these, who perhaps were specially set apart to works of religion or charity, were perfect specimens of physical well-being: but in the following verses we have grouped together fearfully expressive features of their starvation and disease. It is proper, however, to say that Keil, Gesenius, and Nagelsbach take a different view of this word Nazarites, and translate princes or crowned ones.
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