In this chapter, we read that Lord has commands for those men or women who made a vow. As we read there were different vows made in this context, one is in reference to general vows and the other which was more specific as the vow of a Nazarite, Numbers 6:1-21. Whenever anyone spoke the words of the vow, they were binding on them as a self-imposed law, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. Notice there were no written contracts to be made, this is because people are supposed to be as good as their word, Psalms 15:4 / Matthew 5:34-37 / James 5:12.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘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 27:1-10 for the estimation of things vowed to God.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
A vow is a religious promise made to God. Vows were of several kinds.
1. Of abstinence or humiliation, Numbers 30:13.
2. Of the Nazarite, Numbers 6:1-21.
3. Of giving certain things or sacrifices to the Lord, Leviticus 7:16.
4. Of alms given to the poor, Deuteronomy 23:21.
Wade, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There are two kinds of vows which are particularly under consideration in this chapter. They are a. promises to give or to dedicate something to Jehovah and b. pledges to practice some form of abstinence. It is easy to see the wisdom of such legislation. A dependent minor daughter might make a foolish and irresponsible vow to give vast sums of money to some project, such a vow, for some reason not being disallowed, and then the bridegroom marrying her would be saddled with an immense obligation unjustly. Here there was certified to him the right of annulment. The husband had an absolute right to disallow and dissolve such obligations.’
When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said, Numbers 30:1-3. However, any woman who made a vow had to be certified by the man to whom she was responsible.
1. A young woman in her father’s house, Numbers 30:3-5.
If a young woman was still living with her father, then her vow had to have the approval of her father. When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand, Numbers 30:3-4.
However, if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the LORD will release her because her father has forbidden her, Numbers 30:5.
2. A married woman who vowed while she was still single, Numbers 30:6-8.
If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand, Numbers 30:6-7.
However, if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her, Numbers 20:8.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘After betrothal, a woman continued to reside, until the period of her marriage arrived, in her father’s house; but her property was from that time forward vested in her husband, and she was so far regarded as personally his, that an act of faithlessness to him was, like adultery, punishable with death, Deuteronomy 22:23-24. Hence, his right to control her vows even before he actually took her home as his wife.’
3. A widow or divorced person, Numbers 30:9.
Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her, Numbers 30:9.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In each of these cases, the one being loosed from the law of her husband by death, and the other by a bill of divorce, if they vowed, they have none over them to disapprove of, contradict, and make void their vows.’
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following.
‘This is not one of the cases treated of in this section, Numbers 30:16, but is only mentioned in order to point out that it falls under the general principle laid down in Numbers 30:2.’
4. A wife in her husband’s house, Numbers 30:10-15.
If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand, Numbers 30:10-11.
However, if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her, Numbers 30:12.
Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself, Numbers 30:13. However, if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her, Numbers 30:14. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them, Numbers 30:14. However, if he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing, Numbers 30:15.
Note the attestation in Numbers 30:16, that Jehovah himself is the author of the legislation given. Apparently, Moses attached this to each entry in ‘the book’ which contained all of it.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It is very probable that this law, like that concerning the succession of daughters, Numbers 27:1-11, rose from the exigency of some particular case that had just then occurred.’