Numbers 30:10-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 30:3-16

It is here taken for granted that all such persons as are sui juris?at their own disposal, and are likewise of sound understanding and memory, are bound to perform whatever they vow that is lawful and possible; but, if the person vowing be under the dominion and at the disposal of another, the case is different. Two cases much alike are here put and determined:? I. The case of a daughter in her father's house: and some think, probably enough, that it extends to a son likewise, while he is at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:10

And if she vowed in her husband's house ,.... Before his death, in his lifetime, or before divorced: the Targum of Jonathan adds, by way of explanation, "and not at age for marriage", understanding it of a betrothed, and not a married person; but Jarchi says, the Scripture speaks of a married one, which seems most likely: or bound her soul by a bond with an oath ; to fulfil her vow, to abstain from this, or to do that or the other thing. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:11

And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not ,.... Heard her make her vow, and bind it with an oath, and was silent at it, which was consenting to it, and did not contradict her, nor show any displeasure or resentment at her on account of it; the Targum of Jonathan adds,"and died before she was at age;'but what follows held good equally of one that was at age for marriage, and actually married to him: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:12

But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them ,.... Declaring they were contrary to his mind and will, he disapproved of them, and forbid the carrying them into execution: then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand ; though her husband be dead, or she be divorced from him: her husband hath made them void, and the Lord shall forgive her : she will neither incur his displeasure for not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:13

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul ,.... By fasting, as Aben Ezra observes; as when a vow was made, or a person bound herself by an oath to abstain from such and such food, or to fast on such a day; to keep a fast which was not appointed, to set apart a day for fasting, besides the grand and general fast on the day of atonement: Jarchi from hence gathers, that a man only makes vows of afflicting the soul, or vows of fasting; but this is not said by way of limitation and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:14

But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day today ,.... Said not one word to her day after day, neither on the day he heard her vow, nor the day following: then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her ; by his silence: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her, in the day that he heard them ; for not to contradict them was to confirm them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:15

But if he shall any ways make them void, after that he hath heard them ,.... Some way or other expressing his dislike of them; not at the time he heard them, but some time afterwards; one day after, as the Targum of Jonathan: then he shall bear his iniquity : be accountable for the breach of the vow, the sin shall be reckoned to him, and he shall bear the punishment of it, because he ought to have declared is disapprobation of it sooner; and it may be, his doing it when he did was only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:16

These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses between a man and his wife ,.... Relating to vows made by the wife, and confirmed or disannulled by the husband: Aben Ezra adds, if she is at age or in puberty, understanding it of a married and not a betrothed wife: between the father and his daughter ; if she is not at age, as the same writer observes; for if she is at age he has nothing to do with her vows: being yet in her youth ; not at age, being not twelve years and one... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 30:12

Concerning the bond of her soul - Her life is at stake if she fulfill not the obligation under which she has laid herself. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 30:16

These are the statutes - It is very probable that this law, like that concerning the succession of daughters, (Numbers 27)., rose from the exigency of some particular case that had just then occurred. Making vows, in almost any case, is a dangerous business; they seldom do any good, and often much evil. He who does not feel himself bound to do what is fit, right, and just, from the standing testimony of God's word, is not likely to do it from any obligation he may lay upon his own... read more

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