Numbers 30

1 Moses spoke with the leaders of the Israelite tribes. He told them these commands from the Lord.

2 "If a man makes a promise to the Lord or says he will do something special, he must keep his promise. He must do what he said.

3 If a young woman still living at home makes a promise to the Lord or pledges to do something special,

4 and if her father hears about the promise or pledge and says nothing, she must do what she promised. She must keep her pledge.

5 But if her father hears about the promise or pledge and does not allow it, then the promise or pledge does not have to be kept. Her father would not allow it, so the Lord will free her from her promise.

6 "If a woman makes a pledge or a careless promise and then gets married,

7 and if her husband hears about it and says nothing, she must keep her promise or the pledge she made.

8 But if her husband hears about it and does not allow it, he cancels her pledge or the careless promise she made. The Lord will free her from keeping it.

9 "If a widow or divorced woman makes a promise, she must do whatever she promised.

10 "If a woman makes a promise or pledge while she is married,

11 and if her husband hears about it but says nothing and does not stop her, she must keep her promise or pledge.

12 But if her husband hears about it and cancels it, she does not have to do what she said. Her husband has canceled it, so the Lord will free her from it.

13 A woman's husband may make her keep or cancel any promise or pledge she has made.

14 If he says nothing to her about it for several days, she must keep her promises. If he hears about them and says nothing, she must keep her promises.

15 But if he cancels them long after he heard about them, he is responsible if she breaks her promise."

16 These are commands that the Lord gave to Moses for husbands and wives, and for fathers with daughters living at home.

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.