Contradiction with Matthew 8:21-22
This verse contradicts Numbers 6:7 by showing Jesus instructing a follower not to attend to burying a relative, which contrasts with the importance of family burial obligations in Numbers 6:7.
Matthew 8:21-22: And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Contradiction with Luke 9:59-60
In this verse, Jesus tells a man to follow Him and let the dead bury their own dead, which contradicts the obligation of burial for a family member outlined in Numbers 6:7.
Luke 9:59-60: And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 24:16-17
God commands Ezekiel not to mourn or perform traditional mourning rites for his wife, contrasting with the directive in Numbers 6:7 to not be defiled for close kin except for immediate family after death.
Ezekiel 24:16-17: Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. [run down: Heb. go]
Paradox #1
The moral conflict in Numbers 6:7 could be seen in the rule that a Nazirite must avoid becoming ritually impure, even by attending the funeral of a close family member. This could seem to conflict with moral obligations to honor and care for one’s family, particularly in their death. The tension arises between following religious rituals and fulfilling family responsibilities.