Num 30 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 30:1-16: 30:1-16 Vows were an important way to express devotion or piety, but were sometimes made in haste and were often forgotten. Voluntary pledges were commonly made on special religious occasions or in times of war. Perhaps the reference to vows and voluntary offerings (29:39 ) prompted the further discussion here (cp. 15:3 ; see also 6:1-21 ; Lev 5:4-5 ; 27:1-34 ; Deut 23:21-23 ). These instructions were applied in the case of Hannah and Elkanah (1 Sam 1:1-28 ). Such practices, which included fasting, continued into the New Testament period (e.g., Matt 6:16 ; 15:3-9 ; Acts 18:18 ; 21:23 ). Vows of females—young and unmarried or adult and married—were subject to approval by the responsible male who would be a financial partner in the vow. Nobody, male or female, young or old, should make a vow to God and then neglect it. Summary for Num 30:1-2: 30:1-2 Vows included promises of offerings (e.g., Hannah’s vow, 1 Sam 1 ) and pledges of abstinence (e.g., the Nazirite vow, Num 6 ). Jesus made reference to the instruction regarding vows in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:33 ).

Summary for Num 30:1-16: 30:1-16 ^a Vows were an important way to express devotion or piety, but were sometimes made in haste and were often forgotten. Voluntary pledges were commonly made on special religious occasions or in times of war. Perhaps the reference to vows and voluntary offerings (29:39 ^b) prompted the further discussion here (cp. 15:3 ^c; see also 6:1-21 ^d; Lev 5:4-5 ^e; 27:1-34 ^f; Deut 23:21-23 ^g). These instructions were applied in the case of Hannah and Elkanah (1 Sam 1:1-28 ^h). Such practices, which included fasting, continued into the New Testament period (e.g., Matt 6:16 ⁱ; 15:3-9 ^j; Acts 18:18 ^k; 21:23 ^l). Vows of females—young and unmarried or adult and married—were subject to approval by the responsible male who would be a financial partner in the vow. Nobody, male or female, young or old, should make a vow to God and then neglect it.
Summary for Num 30:1-2: 30:1-2 ^m Vows included promises of offerings (e.g., Hannah’s vow, 1 Sam 1 ⁿ) and pledges of abstinence (e.g., the Nazirite vow, Num 6 ^o). Jesus made reference to the instruction regarding vows in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:33 ^p).
Summary for Num 30:3-5: 30:3-5 ^q A young woman was under the authority of her father, who was responsible for her actions and her financial obligations.
Summary for Num 30:6-8: 30:6-8 ^r When a young Hebrew woman married, she came under the authority of her husband, who could void the obligations of a vow or pledge made by his wife while she was under her father’s authority by nullifying it as soon as he heard about it.
30:9 ^s A widow or a divorced woman usually returned to her father’s family (Lev 22:13 ^t), but a mature single woman who made a vow or pledge was required to fulfill her religious duties.
Summary for Num 30:10-15: 30:10-15 ^u A married woman also needed the approval of her husband to make vows and pledges. Her husband could nullify her religious promise, but he had to make this decision on the day he heard about it. God did not hold the married woman guilty of breaking this promise if her husband cancelled it in the proper manner (cp. 30:5 ^v, 8 ^w, 12 ^x). The self-denial mentioned in 30:13 ^y probably refers to fasting. If he raised no objection, the husband’s silence implied consent. He could not delay in his objection, or he would incur the guilt of a broken vow (cp. Lev 5:4-13 ^z).