Rabbi Shemaya would say: What did the Torah see that led it to be lenient regarding an impure nazirite, in that he brings turtledoves or young pigeons?146One as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering. It is because when he became a nazirite, his intent was for the sake of Heaven, and when he became impure, he lost everything that he had done and went back to the beginning. That is why the Torah had mercy on him, to absolve him with the offering of a poor person.
Why is the guilt offering a lamb? It is because he did not protect himself from impurity. The Torah penalized him so that he would accept naziriteship in purity. Why does a pure nazirite bring three types of offerings?
It is in order to permit three matters that are prohibited for him: Anything derived from the grapevine, shaving, and impurity. He would bring the sin offering to permit impurity, the burnt offering to permit shaving, and the peace offering to permit what is derived from the grapevine. Because two prohibitions are written regarding eating what is derived from the grapevine, that is why he would bring two types of bread with the peace offering.
Libations for the burnt offering and for the peace offering correspond to the two prohibitions of drinking, to permit them. Why would he separate the foreleg from the nazirite’s peace offering? It is to strengthen his arm.147So that he would be able to withstand the evil inclination when he resumed drinking wine. Why does the portion of the nazirite follow the portion of the sota, and after the portion of the nazirite, the Priestly Benediction?
It is because they would say to the sota: ‘My daughter, wine accomplishes much. It is the way of a woman only to separate herself from wine like a nazirite.’ They stipulate in her regard everything that is stated in the portion. If she was pure, “she will be absolved and conceive offspring” (Numbers 5:28). Priests, who bless Israel, will emerge from her.