---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Numbers 30"
description: "CHAPTER 30   :-. VOWS ARE
NOT TO BE
BROKEN. 1. This is the thing which the Lord
hath commanded—The subject of this chapter relates to vowing,
which seems"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/numbers/30"
---

CHAPTER 30

. VOWS ARE
NOT TO BE
BROKEN.

**1. 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 or abstaining from particular articles of meat
or drink, of observing a private fast, or doing something to the
honor or in the service of God, over and above what was
authoritatively required. In , mention was made of "vows and freewill 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 perform their vows in certain circumstances that had
arisen.

**2. If a man vow a vow unto the
Lord**—A mere secret purpose of the mind was not enough to
constitute a vow; it had to be actually expressed in words; and
though a purely voluntary act, yet when once the vow was made, the
performance of it, like that of every other promise, became an
indispensable duty—all the more because, referring to a sacred
thing, it could not be neglected without the guilt of prevarication
and unfaithfulness to God.
**he shall not break his
word**—literally, "profane his word"—render it vain
and contemptible ([Psalms 55:20](../../../kjv/psalms/55/20);
[Psalms 89:34](../../../kjv/psalms/89/34)). But as it would
frequently happen that parties would vow to do things which were
neither good in themselves nor in their power to perform, the law
ordained that their natural superiors should have the right of
judging as to the propriety of those vows, with discretionary power
to sanction or interdict their fulfilment. Parents were to determine
in the case of their children, and husbands in that of their
wives—being, however, allowed only a day for deliberation after the
matter became known to them; and their judgment, if unfavorable,
released the devotee from all obligation [[Psalms 89:34](../../../kjv/psalms/89/34)].

**3. If a woman also vow a vow unto
the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in
her youth**—Girls only are specified; but minors of the other
sex, who resided under the parental roof, were included, according to
Jewish writers, who also consider the name "father" as
comprehending all guardians of youth. We are also told that the age
at which young people were deemed capable of vowing was thirteen for
boys and twelve for girls. The judgment of a father or guardian on
the vow of any under his charge might be given either by an expressed
approval or by silence, which was to be construed as approval. But in
the case of a husband who, after silence from day to day, should
ultimately disapprove or hinder his wife's vow, the sin of
non-performance was to be imputed to him and not to her [].

**9. every vow of a widow**—In the
case of a married woman, who, in the event of a separation from her
husband, or of his death, returned, as was not uncommon, to her
father's house, a doubt might have been entertained whether she was
not, as before, subject to paternal jurisdiction and obliged to act
with the paternal consent. The law ordained that the vow was binding
if it had been made in her husband's lifetime, and he, on being made
aware of it, had not interposed his veto [[Numbers 30:10](../../../kjv/numbers/30/10);
[Numbers 30:11](../../../kjv/numbers/30/11)]; as, for instance, she
might have vowed, when not a widow, that she would assign a portion
of her income to pious and charitable uses, of which she might repent
when actually a widow; but by this statute she was required to fulfil
the obligation, provided her circumstances enabled her to redeem the
pledge. The rules laid down must have been exceedingly useful for the
prevention or cancelling of rash vows, as well as for giving a proper
sanction to such as were legitimate in their nature, and made in a
devout, reflecting spirit.

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