| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Numbers Chapter
Thirty
Numbers 30
Chapter Contents
Vows to be kept. (1,2) The cases wherein vows might be
released. (3-16)
Commentary on Numbers 30:1,2
No man can be bound by his own promise to do what he is
already, by the Divine precept, forbidden to do. In other matters the command
is, that he shall not break his words, through he may change his mind.
Commentary on Numbers 30:3-16
Two cases of vows are determined. The case of a daughter
in her father's house. When her vow comes to his knowledge, it is in his power
either to confirm it or do it away. The law is plain in the case of a wife. If
her husband allows her vow, though only by silence, it stands. If he disallows
it, her obligation to her husband takes place of it; for to him she ought to be
in subjection, as unto the Lord. The Divine law consults the good order of
families. It is fit that every man should bear rule in his own house, and have
his wife and children in subjection; rather than that this great rule should be
broken, or any encouragement be given to inferior relations to break those
bonds asunder, God releases the obligation even of a solemn vow. So much does
religion secure the welfare of all societies; and in it the families of the
earth have a blessing.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on
Numbers》
Numbers 30
Verse 5
[5] But if her father disallow her in the day that he
heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her
soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father
disallowed her.
In the days — Speedily, or without delay,
allowing only convenient time for deliberation. And it is hereby intimated,
that the day or time he had for disallowing her vow, was not to be reckoned
from her vowing, but from his knowledge of her vow.
The Lord shall forgive — Or, will forgive her
not performing it. But this should be understood only of vows which could not
be performed without invading the father's right; for if one should vow to
forbear such, or such a sin, and all occasions or means leading to it, and to
perform such, or such duties, when he had opportunity, no father can discharge
him from such vows. If this law does not extend to children's marrying without
the parent's consent, so far as to put it in the power of the parent, to
disannul the marriage, (which some think it does) yet certainly it proves the
sinfulness of such marriages, and obliges those children to repent and humble
themselves before God and their parents.
Verse 9
[9] But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced,
wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
Widow or divorced — Though she be in her
father's house, whither such persons often returned.
Verse 10
[10] And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her
soul by a bond with an oath;
If she vowed — If she that now a widow, or
divorced, made that vow while her husband lived with her; as suppose she then
vowed, that if she was a widow, she would give such a proportion of her estate
to pious or charitable uses, of which vow she might repent when she came to be
a widow, and might believe or repented she was free from it, because that vow
was made in her husband's lifetime; this is granted, in case her husband then
disallowed it; but denied, in case by silence, or otherwise he consented to it.
Verse 13
[13] Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul,
her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
To afflict her soul — Herself by fasting,
by watching, or the like. And these words are added to shew that the husband
had this power not only in those vows which concerned himself or his estate,
but also in those which might seem only to concern her own person, or body, and
the reason is, because the wife's person or body being the husband's right; she
might not do any thing to the injury of her body without his consent.
Verse 15
[15] But if he shall any ways make them void after that he
hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
After he hath heard — And approved them by
his silence from day to day, if after that time he shall hinder it, which he
ought not to do: her non-performance of her vow shall be imputed to him, not to
her.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Numbers》
30 Chapter 30
Verse 2
If a man vow a vow unto the Lord.
The sacred bond
The practice of binding the soul with vows and oaths is of very
ancient date, and common to all systems of religion. Now precisely of this
nature is the baptismal obligation, a sacrament in which we are most solemnly
pledged to the service of God, a covenant which we are bound all the days of
our life faithfully to keep and perform. In confirmation we publicly recognise
our personal responsibility in that act, and profess our serious purpose to
fulfil the solemn engagement; while the bishop officiating, with all the
faithful present, implores for us the aid of the Holy Spirit, that we may be
enabled effectually to carry out our purpose. In entering into any important transaction,
obviously, nothing is more necessary than a correct idea of its nature and its
significance. In order to this, in the present case, we should consider with
whom it is that we make the solemn engagement. Engagements of great weight are
sometimes made with men, but none are so important as those which are made with
God. In joining the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, or any other voluntary
association, you must assume certain obligations, and give certain pledges for
their performance, before you can have any right to the peculiar privileges of
the order. But in becoming a member of Christ’s flock you not only make an
engagement with your Christian brethren, binding yourselves to observe and do
certain things which are essential to the welfare of the sacred fraternity, but
you make in your baptism and renew in your confirmation a covenant with God
Himself--with God, the Father of the spirits of all flesh, to whom all hearts
are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid--with God, who understands
your motives better than you understand them yourselves, who cannot look upon
iniquity, but hates all dissimulation with perfect hatred, and will bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or bad. But let
no man undertake thoughtlessly what ought to be done with the greatest
deliberation and the utmost seriousness. Remember that the act you contemplate
is irrevocable; the obligation you are about to assume is perpetual; the
covenant you are going to ratify is an everlasting covenant, never to be
forgotten. Its neglect is peril; its rupture is perdition. What you promise to
renounce, you must renounce for ever; what you engage to perform, you must do
all the days of your life; what you pledge yourselves to believe, is the
unchangeable and everlasting faith once for all delivered to the saints. No man
putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of
heaven. Oh, how will his broken promises haunt the delinquent on the bed of
death, and stand like threatening spectres before him in the twilight of
eternity! Forget not, then, that the vows of God are upon you, and you cannot
escape the obligation. But let not the fear of failure frighten any of you from
the duty. You owe it to Christ, you owe it to the Church, you owe it to your
sponsors, you owe it to your own souls, to redeem the pledge you have given.
Lay hold upon the proffered strength of God, and renew your consecration to His
service. He will not be wanting on His part. His word is for ever settled in
heaven. Your assurance stands in “two immutable things by which it is
impossible for God to lie.” For He also hath vowed a vow, and sworn an oath to
bind His soul with a bond; and He will not break His word, but will do
according to all that hath proceeded out of His mouth. (J. Cross, D. D.)
The solemn obligation of religious vows
I. The case
supposed. “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul
with a bond.”
1. The vow is made unto God. He is the only true and proper object of
religious vows.
2. The vow binds the soul. “Swear an oath to bind his soul with a
bond.” “A promise to man is a bond upon the estate, but a promise to God is a
bond upon the soul.”
3. The vow is voluntarily made.
4. The thing vowed must be lawful.
II. The danger
implied. “He shall not break his word,” &c. There is in human nature a
deep-rooted tendency to forget in health the vows which were made in sickness,
and to ignore in our security and peace the vows we made in our danger and
alarm.
III. The command
given.
1. That he shall perform his vow. “He shall not break his word.”
2. That he shall fully perform his vow. “He shall do according to all
that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
Conclusion: Appeal to those who have unfulfilled vows resting upon
them.
1. Baptismal vows, in the case of some of you, are unfulfilled.
2. Vows made in affliction or danger by some of you have not been
paid. (W. Jones.)
Vows not to be discouraged
It is not an idle or dangerous thing to form good resolutions, and
make promises, and enter into pledges and covenants anew. A promise is often a
bud; the attempt to keep it a flower, and success therein the fruit. Some would
discourage all promises and pledges lest they be broken. We might as well bid
all the trees in the spring-time keep back their buds for fear of late frost,
or warn them against opening their hearts to the sun lest they be betrayed and blighted. (Christian
Age.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》