Numbers 30:1

_AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE HEADS OF THE TRIBES CONCERNING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, SAYING, THIS IS THE THING WHICH THE LORD HATH COMMANDED._ This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. The subject of this chapter relates to vowing, which seems to have been an ancient usage, allowed by the law to remain and by which some people declared their intention of offering some gift on the altar, of abstaining from particular articles of meat or drink, of observing a private fast, or doing something to the honour or in the service of God, over and above what was authoritatively required. In Num. 30:39 of the preceding chapter mention was made of 'vows and free-will offerings,' and it is probable, from the explanatory nature of the rules laid down in this chapter, that these were given for the removal of doubts and difficulties which conscientious persons had felt about their obligation to perf...

1_And Moses spake. _Moses teaches in this chapter that the vows which were made by persons who were not free, were not held good before God; and although no mention is made of male children, still, as their condition was the same, it seems that by _synecdoche _they must be included with the daughters and wives, unless perhaps God chose to pay regard to the weaker sex. But since He permits females, who were not under their father’s power, to make vows in spite of their sex, nor does He make it to be an excuse for levity or thoughtlessness, it seems that the object proposed was, that the right of the father over his children as well as of the husband over the wife, should be maintained inviolate....

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....

CHAPTER XXX _The law concerning vows of men_, 1, 2. _Of women under age, and in what cases the father may annul_ _them_, 3-5. _The vows of a wife, and in what cases the husband may annul_ _them_, 6-8. _The vows of a widow, or divorced woman, in what cases they may_ _be considered either as confirmed or annulled_, 9-15. _Recapitulation of these ordinances_, 16. NOTES ON CHAP. XXX...

The regulations respecting vows appropriately follow those given respecting sacrifices, since a large proportion of vows would always relate to the presentation of such offerings. Rules had already been given Leviticus 27 for the estimation of things vowed to God. It is probable that this fresh legislation dealing especially with vows made by persons in a state of tutelage, was occasioned by some case of practical difficulty that had recently arisen; and it is addressed by Moses to “the heads of the tribes” Numbers 30:1, who would in their judicial capacity have to determine questions on these subjects. There is no provision in the chapter for annulling vows made by boys and young men; from which it has been inferred that the vows of males were in all ca

EXPOSITION OF VOWS MADE BY WOMEN (Numbers 30:1). NUMBERS 30:1 AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE HEADS OF THE TRIBES. The regulations here laid down about vows follow with a certain propriety upon those concerning the ordinary routine of sacrifices, but we cannot conclude with any assurance that they were actually given at this particular period. It would appear upon the lace of it that we have in Leviticus 27:1, and in this chapter two fragments of Mosaic legislation dealing with the same subject, but, for some reason which it is useless to attempt to discover, widely separated in the

AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE HEADS OF THE TRIBES,.... Or the princes of them, who could more easily be convened, and who used to meet on certain occasions, and on whom it lay to see various laws put in execution: CONCERNING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; how they ought to conduct and behave in the following case, it being an affair which concerned them all: SAYING, THIS IS THE THING WHICH THE LORD HATH COMMANDED; relating to vows. Aben Ezra is of opinion that this was delivered after the battle with Midian, of which there is an account in the following chapter, and is occasioned by what was said, to the tribes of Gad and Reuben, Numbers 32:24 DO THAT WHICH HATH PROCEEDED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH; to which they replied, THY SERVANTS WILL DO AS MY LORD COMMANDETH; upon which the nature of a vow, and the manner of keepi

6. CONCERNING VOWS CHAPTER 30 _ 1. The vow of a man (Numbers 30:1)_ 2. The vows of women (Numbers 30:3) The entire chapter treats of vows. It also has a deeper meaning. There is a sharp contrast between the vow of a man and the vows of virgins, widows or wives. The vows of women could be set aside under certain conditions. The husband or the father could disallow the vow. But if they kept their peace or if she was a widow or divorced, she had to keep the vow. It was different with the man; he was not to break his word, but to do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. The man who keeps his word, who does all that he vowed, typifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He has completely done the work He voluntarily bound Himself to do. The woman represents the nation Israel. T

THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH VOWS ARE BINDING. The vows coming under review are of two kinds: (_a)_ promises to give or dedicate something to Yahweh, (_b_) pledges to practise some form of abstinence. These, if undertaken by men, or by women in positions of independence, are unconditionally binding. But young unmarried women (under the control of their fathers) and married women (under control of their husbands) are only to be bound by their vows if, when the vows were undertaken, no objection was raised. Interference by father or husband at a later date entails guilt on the man. The case of unmarried women who have passed their youth is not expressly considered. See p. 105. NUMBERS 30:9. Apparently misplaced, since Numbers 30:10 continues the subject of...

HEADS. rulers or princes. CHILDREN. sons....