Numbers 30: Understanding Vows and Commitments
And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded.
If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;
And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the Lord shall forgive her.
But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the Lord shall forgive her.
Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
These are the statutes, which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.
Numbers 30 delves into the significance of vows made to the Lord and the responsibilities that accompany them. This chapter underscores the importance of integrity in our promises to God and highlights the divinely ordained structure of authority within the family unit, showing God’s loving provision and warning against making promises lightly.
The Weight of a Vow (Numbers 30:1-2)
In ancient Israel, vows were voluntary commitments made to God, often involving promises to perform a specific act or abstain from something for His sake. Because these vows were willingly made, God rightfully expected complete faithfulness in fulfilling them. Numbers 30:2 emphasizes the solemnity of a vow, stating that a person "must not break his word." This admonition should have served as a deterrent against making rash or insincere promises to the Lord.
Centuries later, Solomon echoed this sentiment in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, cautioning, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." These verses underscore the seriousness with which God views our promises.
Vows and Parental Authority (Numbers 30:3-5)
Numbers 30 presents a fascinating example of God's kingdom agenda operating within the home. It specifically addresses the situation of a young, unmarried woman living under her father's authority (Numbers 30:3). If she made a vow to the Lord, her father had the power to either uphold it, binding her to its terms, or nullify it, releasing her from the obligation (Numbers 30:4-5).
This provision served as a divine safeguard for a young woman who might have spoken impulsively. Her father's final say acted as a protection, demonstrating God's care for those under parental authority. This also reminds us that Israelite women were under the covenant covering of their fathers before transitioning to the protection and covering of their husbands.
Vows, Marriage, and Widowhood (Numbers 30:6-16)
The principle of divinely appointed authority within the home extends into marriage (Numbers 30:6-8, 10-15). If an unmarried woman made a vow that her father approved, that vow carried into her marriage. Her husband then had the same prerogative as her father: to either uphold the vow or cancel it. If he chose to nullify the vow, the Lord released her from it.
Conversely, Numbers 30:9 states that a widow or divorced woman was solely responsible for any vow she made. She had the autonomy to make her own decisions and was bound by her commitments.
Notably, a husband was required to act promptly upon learning of his wife's vow (Numbers 30:12). If he delayed his decision and later decided against his wife fulfilling the vow, he became responsible for her commitment (Numbers 30:15). This stipulation underscores the seriousness of vows and the potential consequences of indecision or negligence. It serves as a further warning against making promises to God lightly. The requirement for immediate action highlights the respect that should be given to commitments made to God, preventing a casual disregard for sacred promises.
And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded.
If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;
And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the Lord shall forgive her.
But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the Lord shall forgive her.
Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
These are the statutes, which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.
Numbers 30 delves into the significance of vows made to the Lord and the responsibilities that accompany them. This chapter underscores the importance of integrity in our promises to God and highlights the divinely ordained structure of authority within the family unit, showing God’s loving provision and warning against making promises lightly.
The Weight of a Vow (Numbers 30:1-2)
In ancient Israel, vows were voluntary commitments made to God, often involving promises to perform a specific act or abstain from something for His sake. Because these vows were willingly made, God rightfully expected complete faithfulness in fulfilling them. Numbers 30:2 emphasizes the solemnity of a vow, stating that a person "must not break his word." This admonition should have served as a deterrent against making rash or insincere promises to the Lord.
Centuries later, Solomon echoed this sentiment in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, cautioning, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." These verses underscore the seriousness with which God views our promises.
Vows and Parental Authority (Numbers 30:3-5)
Numbers 30 presents a fascinating example of God's kingdom agenda operating within the home. It specifically addresses the situation of a young, unmarried woman living under her father's authority (Numbers 30:3). If she made a vow to the Lord, her father had the power to either uphold it, binding her to its terms, or nullify it, releasing her from the obligation (Numbers 30:4-5).
This provision served as a divine safeguard for a young woman who might have spoken impulsively. Her father's final say acted as a protection, demonstrating God's care for those under parental authority. This also reminds us that Israelite women were under the covenant covering of their fathers before transitioning to the protection and covering of their husbands.
Vows, Marriage, and Widowhood (Numbers 30:6-16)
The principle of divinely appointed authority within the home extends into marriage (Numbers 30:6-8, 10-15). If an unmarried woman made a vow that her father approved, that vow carried into her marriage. Her husband then had the same prerogative as her father: to either uphold the vow or cancel it. If he chose to nullify the vow, the Lord released her from it.
Conversely, Numbers 30:9 states that a widow or divorced woman was solely responsible for any vow she made. She had the autonomy to make her own decisions and was bound by her commitments.
Notably, a husband was required to act promptly upon learning of his wife's vow (Numbers 30:12). If he delayed his decision and later decided against his wife fulfilling the vow, he became responsible for her commitment (Numbers 30:15). This stipulation underscores the seriousness of vows and the potential consequences of indecision or negligence. It serves as a further warning against making promises to God lightly. The requirement for immediate action highlights the respect that should be given to commitments made to God, preventing a casual disregard for sacred promises.