Prohibition

The umbrella collects two short, sharply targeted bans on intoxicating drink in the law: one for priests entering the tent of meeting, and one for Nazarites under their vow. Both are framed not as general abstinence but as conditions attached to a specific role or a specific period of separation.

Priests on Duty

The first prohibition follows directly on the death of Nadab and Abihu and is given to Aaron as a permanent rule for entry into the sanctuary: "Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you⁺ go into the tent of meeting, that you⁺ will not die: it will be a statute forever throughout your⁺ generations" (Lev 10:9). The ban is keyed to access — wine and strong drink are forbidden in connection with going in to officiate. The penalty for breach is death. The standing is "forever throughout your⁺ generations."

The Nazarite Vow

The second prohibition is broader in its object but narrower in its term. The Nazarite is bound for the days of the vow only, but during those days the separation extends past wine and strong drink to anything made from the grapevine: "he will separate himself from wine and strong drink; he will drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither will he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. All the days of his separation he will eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the kernels even to the husk" (Num 6:3-4). Vinegar derived from wine, juice, fresh and dried grapes, and even kernels and husks fall inside the prohibition. The vow's whole-vine reach is what distinguishes it from the priestly rule.

Both prohibitions are conditional. The priests' ban is tied to entering the sanctuary; the Nazarite's ban is tied to the days of the vow. Neither is presented as a universal rule for Israel.