VOWS & OATHS (NUM.30)
Then Moses called for all the leaders of Yisharal and told them, “This is what Yahuah has instructed us: A man who makes a vow to Yahuah or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do. If a young woman makes a vow to Yahuah or a pledge under oath while she is still living at her father’s home (and her father hears of the vow or pledge and does not object to it), then all her vows and pledges will stand. But if her father refuses to let her fulfill the vow or pledge (on the day he hears of it), then all her vows and pledges are useless and Yahuah will forgive her because her father would not let her fulfill them. Now suppose a young woman makes a vow or binds herself with an impulsive pledge and later marries. If her husband learns of her vow or pledge and doesn’t object on the day he hears of it, her vows and pledges will stand. But if her husband refuses to accept her vow or impulsive pledge on the day he hears of it, he cancels her commitments, and Yahuah will forgive her. If, however, a woman is a widow or is divorced, she must fulfill all her vows and pledges. But suppose a woman is married and living in her husband’s home when she makes a vow or binds herself with a pledge. If her husband hears of it and doesn’t object to it, her vow or pledge will stand. But if her husband refuses to accept it (on the day he hears of it), her vow or pledge will be cancelled, and Yahuah will forgive her. So her husband may either confirm or cancel any vows or pledges she makes to deny herself. But if he does not object on the day he hears of it, then he is agreeing to all her vows and pledges. If he waits more than a day and then tries to nullify a vow or pledge, he will be punished for her guilt.”
So these are the regulations YAHUSHA gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and a young daughter who still lives at home.
VOW-MAKING IN THIS ANCIENT SCRIPTURAL-ERA IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AND WEREN’T SEEN AS CASUAL OR SUPERSTITIOUS. ON THE CONTRARY, IF YOU MADE A VOW OR SWORE AN OATH TO YAHUSHA, HE EXPECTED YOU TO KEEP YOUR WORD. IN FACT, VOW-MAKING WAS SEEN AS SO SERIOUS THAT IT WAS GENERALLY RECOMMENDED THAT ONE NOT MAKE A VOW OR SWEAR AN OATH UNLESS IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. WHAT’S WHY YAHUSHA SAID “LET YOUR ‘YES’ BE ‘YES’ AND YOUR ‘NO’ BE ‘NO’“, CAUTIONING AGAINST THE TENDENCY PEOPLE HAVE TO CARELESSLY MAKE VOWS IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. HE WASN’T DOING AWAY WITH ANY OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, HE WAS SAYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION BEFORE MAKING A VOW BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO, YOU’RE STUCK WITH IT.
