Numbers 30

1 narravitque Moses filiis Israhel omnia quae ei Dominus imperarat

2 et locutus est ad principes tribuum filiorum Israhel iste est sermo quem praecepit Dominus

3 si quis virorum votum Domino voverit aut se constrinxerit iuramento non faciet irritum verbum suum sed omne quod promisit implebit

4 mulier si quippiam voverit et se constrinxerit iuramento quae est in domo patris sui et in aetate adhuc puellari si cognoverit pater votum quod pollicita est et iuramentum quo obligavit animam suam et tacuerit voti rea erit

5 quicquid pollicita est et iuravit opere conplebit

6 sin autem statim ut audierit contradixerit pater et vota et iuramenta eius irrita erunt nec obnoxia tenebitur sponsioni eo quod contradixerit pater

7 si maritum habuerit et voverit aliquid et semel verbum de ore eius egrediens animam illius obligaverit iuramento

8 quo die audierit vir et non contradixerit voti rea erit reddet quodcumque promiserat

9 sin autem audiens statim contradixerit et irritas fecerit pollicitationes eius verbaque quibus obstrinxerat animam suam propitius ei erit Dominus

10 vidua et repudiata quicquid voverint reddent

11 uxor in domo viri cum se voto constrinxerit et iuramento

12 si audierit vir et tacuerit nec contradixerit sponsioni reddet quodcumque promiserat

13 sin autem extemplo contradixerit non tenebitur promissionis rea quia maritus contradixit et Dominus ei propitius erit

14 si voverit et iuramento se constrinxerit ut per ieiunium vel ceterarum rerum abstinentiam adfligat animam suam in arbitrio viri erit ut faciat sive non faciat

15 quod si audiens vir tacuerit et in alteram diem distulerit sententiam quicquid voverat atque promiserat reddet quia statim ut audivit tacuit

16 sin autem contradixerit postquam rescivit portabit ipse iniquitatem eius

17 istae sunt leges quas constituit Dominus Mosi inter virum et uxorem inter patrem et filiam quae in puellari adhuc aetate est vel quae manet in parentis domo

Numbers 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

Vows to be kept. (1,2) The cases wherein vows might be released. (3-16)

Verses 1-2 No man can be bound by his own promise to do what he is already, by the Divine precept, forbidden to do. In other matters the command is, that he shall not break his words, through he may change his mind.

Verses 3-16 Two cases of vows are determined. The case of a daughter in her father's house. When her vow comes to his knowledge, it is in his power either to confirm it or do it away. The law is plain in the case of a wife. If her husband allows her vow, though only by silence, it stands. If he disallows it, her obligation to her husband takes place of it; for to him she ought to be in subjection, as unto the Lord. The Divine law consults the good order of families. It is fit that every man should bear rule in his own house, and have his wife and children in subjection; rather than that this great rule should be broken, or any encouragement be given to inferior relations to break those bonds asunder, God releases the obligation even of a solemn vow. So much does religion secure the welfare of all societies; and in it the families of the earth have a blessing.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 30

Mention being made, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, of vows to be performed to the Lord, besides the sacrifices directed to; here some account is given of them, and men are charged to fulfil, and not break them, Nu 30:1,2 but as to women, if a maid, being in her father's house, made a vow in his hearing, and he silent at it, her vow stood; but if he disapproved of it, it was null and void, Nu 30:3-5 and so a wife, when she vowed a vow in the hearing of her husband, and he said not ought against it, it was valid; but if he objected to it, it stood for nothing, Nu 30:6-8, likewise a widow, or one divorced, that made a vow in her husband's house, before he died, or she was put away from him, and he did not contradict it, it remained in force and to be fulfilled; but if he made it void, it stood not, and she was forgiven, Nu 30:9-12 it being in an husband's power to confirm or make null a vow or oath, made by his wife to afflict her soul; but if he made any void after he heard them, and had been silent, he himself was to bear her iniquity, Nu 30:13-16.