Numbers 30:13

13 If she avoweth, and bindeth herself by an oath, that she torment her soul by fasting, either by abstinence of other things, it shall be in the doom of her husband, that she do that, either do it not. (If she voweth, or bindeth herself with an oath, that she torment her soul with fasting, or by abstaining from other things, it shall be her husband who shall decide whether she must do it, or not.)

Numbers 30:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:13

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul
By fasting, as Aben Ezra observes; as when a vow was made, or a person bound herself by an oath to abstain from such and such food, or to fast on such a day; to keep a fast which was not appointed, to set apart a day for fasting, besides the grand and general fast on the day of atonement: Jarchi from hence gathers, that a man only makes vows of afflicting the soul, or vows of fasting; but this is not said by way of limitation and restriction, but by way of amplification and illustration, giving a particular instance, by which others may be judged of:

her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void,
just as he pleased; and this power an husband had, to prevent confusion in the family, and trouble in the affairs of it, by vowing abstinence from such and such food, or from such and such liquor, and the like; and to prevent running into expenses he was not able to answer, by vowing and dedicating, this and the other to holy uses, for sacrifices, and repairs of the temple, and the like.

Numbers 30:13 In-Context

11 if her husband heareth it, and is still, and against-saith not her promise, she shall yield, whatever thing she promised. (if her husband heareth of it, and is silent, and saith nothing against her promise, she shall yield whatever that she hath promised.)

12 Soothly if the husband against-said anon, she shall not be holden guilty of the promise, for her husband against-said it anon, and the Lord shall be merciful to her. (But if her husband said against it at once, she shall not be held to the promise, for her husband said against it at once, and so the Lord shall be merciful to her.)

13 If she avoweth, and bindeth herself by an oath, that she torment her soul by fasting, either by abstinence of other things, it shall be in the doom of her husband, that she do that, either do it not. (If she voweth, or bindeth herself with an oath, that she torment her soul with fasting, or by abstaining from other things, it shall be her husband who shall decide whether she must do it, or not.)

14 That if the husband heareth it, and he is still, and delayeth the sentence in[to] the tother day, she shall yield whatever thing she avowed and promised, for he was still, (and said not against it,) anon as he heard. (But if her husband heareth of it, and he is silent, and delayeth his judgement into the next day, she shall yield whatever that she hath vowed, or hath promised, for he was silent, and said nothing against it, as soon as he heard of it.)

15 Soothly if her husband against-said her avow, and her oath, after that he knew thereof, he shall bear his wickedness. (But if her husband saith against her vow, or her oath, sometime after that he hath learned of it, he shall bear her wickedness, that is, the penalty for not fulfilling the vow.)