If one said: "I shall be a Nazirite" and he became unclean on the thirtieth day, he offsets the whole (Naziritism), [for he became unclean in the midst of the days of Naziritism. And we do not say that the thirtieth day reverts to both (Naziritisms), that part of the day is like all of the day, except when he shaved and brought offerings on that day.] R. Eliezer says: He offsets only seven days (of purification for his uncleanliness). [For he holds that we say part of the day is like all of the day, and it is as if he became unclean after fulfillment (of his Naziritism). And uncleanliness after fulfillment, according to R. Eliezer, offsets (i.e., adds on) only seven.] (If one said:) "I shall be a Nazirite for thirty days," if he became unclean on the thirtieth day, he offsets the whole, [both according to R. Eliezer and according to the rabbis. For since he said; "I shall be a Nazirite for thirty days," all agree that he requires thirty full days and that we do not say in this instance: "part of the day is like all of the day." And R. Eliezer, who holds (3:4) that one who becomes unclean on the day of fulfillment itself offsets thirty days alone, but not the whole, derives it from (Numbers 6:13): "And this is the law of the Nazirite on the day of the fulfillment" — If he became unclean on the day of the fulfillment, "give him" the law of the Nazirite; that is, Naziritism in general, thirty days — Here, where he said: "I shall be a Nazirite for thirty days, and he became unclean on the thirtieth day, which is the day of fulfillment, when he offsets all thirty, he offsets the whole. And the rabbis, too, who differ with R. Eliezer, saying that the one who becomes unclean on the day of fulfillment offsets the whole, even if he counted many days — here, where he said: "I shall be a Nazirite for thirty days," and he became unclean on the day of fulfillment, by offsetting the thirty, he offsets the whole. So that both according to R. Eliezer and according to the rabbis, he offsets the whole. And wherever R. Eliezer and the sages differ, the halachah is in accordance with the sages.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Nazir
נמצא יום שלשים סתר את הכל – for he was defiled in the midst of the days of his Naziriteship, and we don’t say that the thirtieth day counts both for here (i.e., the first Naziriteship) and there (i.e., the second Naziriteship), since part of a day is considered a complete day, but rather, when he shaved and brought his [hair] sacrifices on that day.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nazir
Introduction
When a nazirite becomes impure he renders void the entire term of naziriteship that he has already observed. He must purify himself in the standard procedure, which takes seven days. He then shaves, brings a bird sacrifice and then he begins to count again (see Numbers 6:9-12). Our mishnah deals with one who has become impure on the thirtieth day of his nazirite period. This person has not yet brought the sacrifices which he brings at the end of his naziriteship.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Nazir
ר"א אומר אינו סותר אלא שבעה – for he holds that we say that part of a day is considered as a whole day and it is as if he became defiled after fulfilling [his Naziriteship], and defilement after fulfilling [his Naziriteship] according to Rabbi Eliezer does not lose anything other than seven [days].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nazir
If one says, “Behold, I am a nazirite,” and becomes impure on the thirtieth day, he renders void the whole period. Rabbi Eliezer says: only seven days are void. According to the first opinion, even though he has reached the thirtieth day, and thereby completed his nazirite vow of unspecified duration, since he has not yet brought his sacrifices, his becoming impure renders the whole period void. He now has to become pure, shave and bring sacrifices and then start counting again. Rabbi Eliezer holds that this does not void all of the days which he has already served. Rather he waits seven days, during which he purifies himself and then brings the end of naziriteship sacrifices. According to Rabbi Eliezer, since on the thirtieth day he could have offered his sacrifices before he became impure, it is as if he completed his naziriteship, he just can’t offer his sacrifices until he becomes pure.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Nazir
הריני נזיר שלשים יום נטמא יום ל' סתר את הכל – whether according to Rabbi Eliezer or according to the Rabbis, for since he said, “I am a Nazirite for thirty days,” everyone agrees that we require thirty complete days, and we don’t say in this that part of a day is considered a whole day. And Rabbi Eliezer who holds that a person (i.e., a Nazirite who is defiled on the fulfilling [the vow] exactly, loses only the thirtieth day and does not lose it all, we derive it from a Biblical verse, as it is written (Numbers 6:13): “This is the ritual of the nazirite: On the day that his term as Nazirite is completed.” If he is defiled on the day of completion, give him the Torah of Naziriteship, meaning to say an unspecified period of Naziriteship is thirty days; here that he said: “I am a Nazirite for thirty days,” and he was defiled on the thirtieth day which is the day of completion, since he lost all thirty, he lost everything. But the Rabbis also who dispute that of Rabbi Eliezer and state that someone who is defiled on the day of completion has lost everything and even if he counted a few days here, for when he said, “I am a Nazirite for thirty days and was defiled on the day of completion, since he also lost the thirtieth day, he lost everything; therefore, whether according to Rabbi Eliezer or according to the Rabbis, he lost everything, and in everything where Rabbi Eliezer and the Sages dispute, the Halakha is according to the Sages.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Nazir
[If one says,] “Behold, I am a nazirite for thirty days”, and becomes impure on the thirtieth day, the he renders void the whole period. However, if he vows to be a nazirite for thirty days, he must serve a full thirty days, as we learned in yesterday’s mishnah. In this case if he becomes impure on the thirtieth day, Rabbi Eliezer would agree that he has rendered the entire naziriteship void. He must become pure and then start counting again.
