Numbers 30

scribed; or afflict his soul on some other day, besides the day of atonement. (See ver. L3.) Or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond. Whether it be a simple vow, or bound also with a solemn oath; which made a double obligation, by calling God to witness the sincerity of his intentions. He shall not break his word.’] In the Hebrew it is, he sltall not profane his word; for it being solemnly passed to God, it made hira vile and contemptible if he did not keep it The Jewish doctors very prudently advise their scholars not to accustom themselves to make vows, but to content themselves with doing what the law commands, and abstaining from what it forbids; but if they did make them, to look upon it as a high affront to God not to perform them. He shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his wouth.] If the thing be lawful, and possible. And if he appointed no time for the doing of it, he was to think him-; selfobligedtodoitpresently,withoutdelay,(Deut.xxii.21.)

Numbers 30:3

If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord. As most interpreters think the word man, in the foregoing verse, comprehends women, who were in as perfect liberty as the men he speaks of; so the word woman here comprehends all men, who are in the same circumstances with those women, whom he here directs in their vows: whom Jio considers in a threefold state; before they are married, and after marriage, and in their widowhood. And bind herself by a bond.] By an oath, wherewith she confirms her vow; as it seems to be interpreted ver. 10. 13. Being in her father’s house, in her youth.] That is, being a part of his family, and still under his government, and not married. For the fathers power lasts no longer, as Grotius observes, (lib. ii.de Jure Belli etPacis, cap. 5, n. 7.) In which condition likewise are all sons, who remain in their father’s family, undisposed of in marriage: and all servants, who arc manifestly in subjection to their masters; and therefore could no more resolve to do what they pleased, than the women here mentioned. -

Numbers 30:4

And her father heareth her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound herself. The first of these may relate to her simple vow; and the next to an oath wherewith she binds it, to make it firmer; which her father is supposed to hear, either when she spake the words, or when she acquainted him with her vow, as in duty she was bound to do.. And her father shall hold his peace at her.] If he did not declare that he disallowed what she had promised, it was supposed he consented to it: unless he said he would take. time to consider, and neither allow nor disallow for the present; in which case, in all reason, she was to wait for. his resolution. Then all her vows shall stand, &c] It was not in his power afterward to disannul any of them, if he did not contradict them when he was told of them, or after the time he had taken for deliberation.

Numbers 30:5

But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth. As soon as he comes acquainted with it. Not any of her vows, or her bonds, wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand.] Though she had bound her vows with an oath, they were not to be performed, when her father had declared his will to the contrary. And the Lord shall forgive her.] The not performing her vow shall not be imputed to her as a sin. Because her father disallowed Iter.] Whose consent was supposed to be necessary, before the. vow could be binding; she being, while a part of his family, under his power, and not her own. Some have fancied, that when her father was dead the vow revived, because then she was at her own disposal: but it is plain, her father wholly disannulled the vow, when he did not approve it; so that it could not recover a force it never had, being made without his consent. The same is to bo said of a guardian, who was supposed to be in the place of a father, when he died and left his chil-. dren to his care. And this power was fit to be reserved to parents (as a late learned man, Puffendorf, observes), not only lest women, in their imprudent years, should undo themselves, by vowing more than their fortunes could bear; but also, lest the paternal estate should be burdened by such vows, or the necessary affairs of the family hindered. So that this power did not flow from positive laws, but from natural reason; nobody that is subject to another having any right to dispose of those things which are under that power to which they are subject.

Numbers 30:6

And if she had at all a husband when she vowed. Was a married woman, or espoused to a husband, though, still in her father’s house (as it appears from ver. 10. this must be interpreted), when she made thisvow, then it was to be considered, not what her father, but her husband (under whose power she now was) should determine about it. Or uttered aught out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul:] Said any thing, which she confirmed by an oath.

Numbers 30:7

And her husband heard it. Either was present when she spake it; or she told it him afterward.’ And he held his peace, in the day that he heard it.] Said nothing to signify his disallowance of it: (see ver. 4.) Tlien her vows shall stand, &c] As before, (ver..4.)

Numbers 30:8

But if her husband disallow her, &c. See ver, 5.- where there is the same case of a daughter under the power of her father, as here of a wife under the power of her husband.

Numbers 30:9

But every vow of a tvidow, or of her that is di~ vorced, wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand -against her. The reason, of this is so plain, that one would * think it needed not to have been mentioned, because such, women wero wholly in their own power, being free from their husbands. Therefore it is very probable he speaks here of a widow, or divorced woman, returned to her fa-, ther’s house,(as the manner frequently was, Lev. xxii. 13.) who might bo supposed to. recover his ancient power over her, to disannul her vows, as he might before she was mar- ried: which is here absolutely condemned; for though she lived with him, she was her own woman (as we now speak), and might dispose of herself and her goods as she pleased, without his consent.

Numbers 30:10

And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath. i. e. Engaged herself in a vow, and perhaps confirmed it with an oath, while she and her husband lived together, or before she was divorced from him.

Numbers 30:11

And her husband heard it, and held. his peace, and disallowed it not: then all her voivs shall stand, &c. She was bound, in this case, to make them good after he was dead, or she was divorced from him.

Numbers 30:12

But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them, &c. Then, when she was in her