Numbers 6 · a question people ask
Why couldn't a Nazirite go near his own father or mother when they died?
The text gives the reason in the same verse: "He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head" (6:7). An ordinary priest was allowed to for close family: "A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother" (Leviticus 21:1-2). Only the high priest was told "not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother" (Leviticus 21:11). For the days of his vow, the Nazirite was held to that line, and his list also names his brother and his sister (6:7).
The verses
““‘All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.”
“The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself.”
“He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother.”