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Numbers Chapter Thirty                            

 

Numbers 30

Chapter Contents

Vows to be kept. (1 2) The cases wherein vows might be released. (3-16)

Commentary on Numbers 30:1 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.

Commentary on Numbers 30:3-16

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.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Numbers

 

Numbers 30

Verse 5

[5] But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her because her father disallowed her.

In the days — Speedily or without delay allowing only convenient time for deliberation. And it is hereby intimated that the day or time he had for disallowing her vow was not to be reckoned from her vowing but from his knowledge of her vow.

The Lord shall forgive — Or will forgive her not performing it. But this should be understood only of vows which could not be performed without invading the father's right; for if one should vow to forbear such or such a sin and all occasions or means leading to it and to perform such or such duties when he had opportunity no father can discharge him from such vows. If this law does not extend to children's marrying without the parent's consent so far as to put it in the power of the parent to disannul the marriage (which some think it does) yet certainly it proves the sinfulness of such marriages and obliges those children to repent and humble themselves before God and their parents.

Verse 9

[9] But every vow of a widow and of her that is divorced wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand against her.

Widow or divorced — Though she be in her father's house whither such persons often returned.

Verse 10

[10] And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;

If she vowed — If she that now a widow or divorced made that vow while her husband lived with her; as suppose she then vowed that if she was a widow she would give such a proportion of her estate to pious or charitable uses of which vow she might repent when she came to be a widow and might believe or repented she was free from it because that vow was made in her husband's lifetime; this is granted in case her husband then disallowed it; but denied in case by silence or otherwise he consented to it.

Verse 13

[13] Every vow and every binding oath to afflict the soul her husband may establish it or her husband may make it void.

To afflict her soul — Herself by fasting by watching or the like. And these words are added to shew that the husband had this power not only in those vows which concerned himself or his estate but also in those which might seem only to concern her own person or body and the reason is because the wife's person or body being the husband's right; she might not do any thing to the injury of her body without his consent.

Verse 15

[15] But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.

After he hath heard — And approved them by his silence from day to day if after that time he shall hinder it which he ought not to do: her non-performance of her vow shall be imputed to him not to her.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Numbers

 

30 Chapter 30

 

Verse 2

Numbers 30:2

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord.

The sacred bond

The practice of binding the soul with vows and oaths is of very ancient date and common to all systems of religion. Now precisely of this nature is the baptismal obligation a sacrament in which we are most solemnly pledged to the service of God a covenant which we are bound all the days of our life faithfully to keep and perform. In confirmation we publicly recognise our personal responsibility in that act and profess our serious purpose to fulfil the solemn engagement; while the bishop officiating with all the faithful present implores for us the aid of the Holy Spirit that we may be enabled effectually to carry out our purpose. In entering into any important transaction obviously nothing is more necessary than a correct idea of its nature and its significance. In order to this in the present case we should consider with whom it is that we make the solemn engagement. Engagements of great weight are sometimes made with men but none are so important as those which are made with God. In joining the Freemasons the Knights Templar or any other voluntary association you must assume certain obligations and give certain pledges for their performance before you can have any right to the peculiar privileges of the order. But in becoming a member of Christ’s flock you not only make an engagement with your Christian brethren binding yourselves to observe and do certain things which are essential to the welfare of the sacred fraternity but you make in your baptism and renew in your confirmation a covenant with God Himself--with God the Father of the spirits of all flesh to whom all hearts are open all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid--with God who understands your motives better than you understand them yourselves who cannot look upon iniquity but hates all dissimulation with perfect hatred and will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or bad. But let no man undertake thoughtlessly what ought to be done with the greatest deliberation and the utmost seriousness. Remember that the act you contemplate is irrevocable; the obligation you are about to assume is perpetual; the covenant you are going to ratify is an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten. Its neglect is peril; its rupture is perdition. What you promise to renounce you must renounce for ever; what you engage to perform you must do all the days of your life; what you pledge yourselves to believe is the unchangeable and everlasting faith once for all delivered to the saints. No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of heaven. Oh how will his broken promises haunt the delinquent on the bed of death and stand like threatening spectres before him in the twilight of eternity! Forget not then that the vows of God are upon you and you cannot escape the obligation. But let not the fear of failure frighten any of you from the duty. You owe it to Christ you owe it to the Church you owe it to your sponsors you owe it to your own souls to redeem the pledge you have given. Lay hold upon the proffered strength of God and renew your consecration to His service. He will not be wanting on His part. His word is for ever settled in heaven. Your assurance stands in “two immutable things by which it is impossible for God to lie.” For He also hath vowed a vow and sworn an oath to bind His soul with a bond; and He will not break His word but will do according to all that hath proceeded out of His mouth. (J. Cross D. D.)

The solemn obligation of religious vows

I. The case supposed. “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond.”

1. The vow is made unto God. He is the only true and proper object of religious vows.

2. The vow binds the soul. “Swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond.” “A promise to man is a bond upon the estate but a promise to God is a bond upon the soul.”

3. The vow is voluntarily made.

4. The thing vowed must be lawful.

II. The danger implied. “He shall not break his word ” &c. There is in human nature a deep-rooted tendency to forget in health the vows which were made in sickness and to ignore in our security and peace the vows we made in our danger and alarm.

III. The command given.

1. That he shall perform his vow. “He shall not break his word.”

2. That he shall fully perform his vow. “He shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”

Conclusion: Appeal to those who have unfulfilled vows resting upon them.

1. Baptismal vows in the case of some of you are unfulfilled.

2. Vows made in affliction or danger by some of you have not been paid. (W. Jones.)

Vows not to be discouraged

It is not an idle or dangerous thing to form good resolutions and make promises and enter into pledges and covenants anew. A promise is often a bud; the attempt to keep it a flower and success therein the fruit. Some would discourage all promises and pledges lest they be broken. We might as well bid all the trees in the spring-time keep back their buds for fear of late frost or warn them against opening their hearts to the sun lest they be betrayed and blighted. (Christian Age.)

──The Biblical Illustrator