Get a haircut you hippie TB Nedarim 5

We learned that one of the differences between a nazir Shimshon (nazir Samson) and a permanent nazir (nazir olam-נְזִיר עוֹלָם) is a haircut. A nazir Shimon may never get a haircut while a nazir olam may get a haircut when his hair becomes too heavy for him.

The Gemara presents three different points of view when a nazir olam may get a haircut.

Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi learns that a permanent nazir may get a haircut once every year. “Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: Absalom was a permanent nazirite, as it is stated: “And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king: I pray to you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron” (II Samuel 15:7). And he cut his hair once every twelve months, as it is stated: “And when he polled his head, now it was at every year’s [yamim] end that he polled it; because the hair was heavy on him” (II Samuel 14:26).  

“And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi derives the meaning of the term yamim stated with regard to Absalom based upon a verbal analogy from the word yamim that appears in the context of houses of walled cities, where it states: “For a full year [yamim] he shall have the right of redemption” (Leviticus 25:29). Just as there, in the case of walled cities, the term yamim means twelve months, as the verse states immediately afterward: “Within the space of a full year” (Leviticus 25:30), so too here, in the case of Absalom, the term yamim means twelve months.” (daf 4b-5a, Sefaria.org translation)

The second opinion a permanent nazir may get a haircut is once every 30 days. “Rabbi Nehorai says: Absalom cut his hair once every thirty days… The Gemara explains the basis for this opinion: What is the reason that with regard to priests, the halakha is that they must cut their hair every thirty days? It is because after that interval there is noticeable weight to the hair. Here, too, in the case of Absalom, there is noticeable weight after this period of time has passed, and it is clear that Absalom cut his hair due to its weight, as it is stated: “Because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it” (II Samuel 14:26).” (Sefaria.org translation)

The third opinion is the hardest to accept because one of the signs of a nazir is long hair. “Rabbi Yosei says: He cut his hair from one Shabbat eve to another Shabbat eve, as we find that the sons of kings cut their hair from one Shabbat eve to another Shabbat eve… If so, what difference is there between Absalom, who was a nazirite, and the rest of his brothers, King David’s sons, who also cut their hair once a week?

“The Gemara answers: There is a difference between them with regard to a Festival that occurs in the middle of the week, as his brothers would cut their hair in honor of the Festival, whereas he would not cut his hair. Alternatively, the difference between them concerns cutting hair on the morning of Shabbat eve. His brothers would cut their hair at that hour, whereas he would not cut his hair until the evening, shortly before Shabbat.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rambam poskins that a nazir may cut his hair once every 12 months. (Mishneh Torah, Book of Vows, laws of nazirut, chapter 3 halakha 12)