Numbers 30:3-16

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 30:3

If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord ,.... Who has not passed thirteen years, as the Targum of Jonathan: and bind herself by a bond ; lay herself under obligation to perform her vow by an oath: being in her father's house; unto the twelfth year, as the same Targum; that is, that is under his care, tuition, and jurisdiction, whether she literally, or properly speaking, is in the house or no at the time she vows; so Jarchi interprets it of her being in the power of her father,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:4

And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul ,.... Her vow, which is binding upon her, or her vow and an oath annexed to it; which makes it still more strongly binding; and this he hears himself, or it is reported to him by others: and her father shall hold his peace at her; shall not reprove her for it, nor contradict her in it: then all her vows shall stand; be they what, or as many as they may: and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:5

But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth ,.... Disapproves of her vow, and expresses his dislike of it, and declares it null and void; which, if done at all, is to be done on the same day he hears it, and not on another day, as Aben Ezra observes; not the day following, and much less on a third or fourth day, &c.; and it might be done on a sabbath day F21 Misn. Sabbat, c. 24. sect. 5. : not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she bound her soul , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:6

And if she had at all an husband with whom she vowed ,.... Or "when her vows were upon her" F23 ונדריה עליה , was either betrothed or married to a man: or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul ; uttered anything, either with or without premeditation, either with thought and deliberation, or rashly and imprudently, as the word signifies, yet in such a manner that it was binding upon her. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:7

And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it ,.... The vow she made, and by his silence consented to it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand ; or she be under obligation to perform them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:8

But if her husband disallow her on the day that he heard it ,.... Expresses his dislike of it; and this he does as soon as he hears it, at least that same day; according to the Jews F24 Leo Modena's History of Rites, &c.; par. 2. c. 4. , within the space of twenty four hours: then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect ; by contradicting it, and forbidding the performance of it; or however by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 30:9

But every vow of a widow ,.... The Scripture speaks, as Jarchi says, of a widow from marriage, or that has been married, but a widow from espousals (or that has been only espoused), the husband dead, the power is transmitted, and returns to the father; and with respect to such a case, it is said in the Misnah F25 Nedarim, c. 10. sect. 2. "if the father (of such a betrothed person) dies, the power is not transmitted to the husband; but if the husband dies, the power is transmitted to... 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

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