Study Nazir folio 30A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
הא ברשותיה דאבוה קאים! אלא דאמר: אהא בשביל אבא, אהא בשביל עצמי.
After all, he still remains under his father’s authority with regard to naziriteship, as he has yet to develop two pubic hairs. Rather, one must explain that he said the following: I should be a nazirite due to my father; I should be a nazirite due to my own vow. In other words, he did not link his statement to the question of whether he was old enough to vow but to the issue of his father’s authority with regard to naziriteship, i.e., whether he had developed two hairs.
אי אייתי שתי שערות מעיקרא — קאים בנזירות דיליה, ולבסוף — קאים בנזירות דאבוה. ואי אייתי במצעי מאי?
The Talmud asks: According to the opinion of R' Yehuda HaNasi, if he had developed two pubic hairs from the outset, i.e., before his father vowed, he would stand bound by his own naziriteship, and if he reached physical maturity at the end, i.e., after the vow ended, he would stand bound by his father’s vow of naziriteship. But if he developed two hairs in the middle of his naziriteship term, of what use would the son’s vow be?
הניחא לרבי יוסי ברבי יהודה דאמר: עד שיגיע לעונת נדרים.
The Talmud clarifies: This works out well according to the opinion of R' Yosei, son of R' Yehuda, who said that a father can vow on behalf of his son until he reaches the age of vows. The reason is that this stage is by rabbinic law, and therefore the fact that the son has reached this stage does not automatically cancel the father’s vow. The son would complete his term and bring his offerings.
אלא לרבי דאמר: עד שיביא שתי שערות, מאי איכא למימר? אמרי: לרבי ליכא תקנתא עד דיתיב דיליה ויתיב דאבוהי.
However, according to the opinion of R' Yehuda HaNasi, who said that a father can vow for his son only until he develops two pubic hairs, what can be said? If he grew two hairs during his father’s naziriteship it is no longer in effect, as by Torah law he is no longer under his father’s authority, so what is the halakha in that case? The rabbis say in response: According to the opinion of R' Yehuda HaNasi, this child has no rectification until he sits for his term of naziriteship and also sits for the naziriteship of his father, i.e., he must be a nazirite for 60 days, to ensure that he completes a full term of 30 days, either for his own naziriteship or for that of his father.