12. Wine to drink. Instead of profiting by the holy lives of these men, apostate Israel endeavored to make the Nazarites break their vows.
Prophesy not. Rather than accept the testimony of the prophets, Israel rejected these divinely inspired messages, and often ill-treated those who were sent to deliver God’s word to the people (see Jer. 20:9; 1 Cor. 9:16). Ungrateful and disobedient, the people of Israel could not tolerate those who were a living reproof to their own evil ways (see 1 Kings 13:4; 19:1, 2; 2 Kings 6:31; Isa. 30:9, 10; Matt. 23:37). Those who will not endure faithful preaching will have much to answer for, and those who suppress it, much more. When men shut their ears to hearing the word of God, they well-nigh close the avenue by which His Spirit has access to the soul.