P. _The performance of vows by women_ The chapter opens with the command (Numbers 30:2) that a man shall always observe a vow which he has made. But the rest of the chapter deals with vows made by women. The following rules are laid down: (1) an unmarried woman living in her father's house, or a m... [ Continue Reading ]
Two kinds of pledges are here mentioned, a _vow_and an _obligation_. A _vow_is a promise to give something to God. Such votive offerings were frequent in times of danger or special need (cf. Genesis 28:20-22; Judges 11:30 f.). In post-exilic times they would often consist in gifts to the temple (cf.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in her youth_ Old unmarried women are not mentioned. But since marriage was, in the eyes of a Jew, a religious duty, this class of women must have been very small, and would probably be subject to the same rule as widows.... [ Continue Reading ]
_heareth her vow_ i.e. comes to hear of it; Numbers 30:7 shew that it does not necessarily mean that he is present when she actually utters her vow.... [ Continue Reading ]
_disallow her_ lit. -oppose her," express disapproval.... [ Continue Reading ]
_while her vows are upon her_ If at the time of her marriage she was still bound by some vow or pledge of abstinence, which she had previously taken with her father's approval.... [ Continue Reading ]
When her husband comes to hear of it (see Numbers 30:4), he may then either annul it if he wishes, or by tacit approval allow it to stand.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to afflict the soul_ See on Numbers 29:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
If, after tacitly consenting at the time that he heard of the vow, he compels her at a later time to break it, then Jehovah will not (as in the foregoing cases) forgive, but the iniquity will rest upon the husband and not upon the woman.... [ Continue Reading ]