Laws Concerning Vows

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Chapter 30 deals with instructions on how "vows" were to be made to the Lord. Vows, in those days, were as popular as New Years resolutions are today. In this chapter there are five conditions listed under which a person might find himself and as a result, wish to make a vow. Notice what a "vow" was. "A vow was a promise to the Lord to do something or quit something for a specified period of time.

The following were laws concerning vows:

1. If a man makes a vow, he cannot break the vow.
2. If a young un-married girl makes a vow and she is still living with her father, the legality of that vow will depend upon her father.
   1. If, when he hears about the vow, he does not object, the vow will stand.
   2. If he objects, and he has to do this on the first day that he hears about it, her vow will be invalid but God will forgive her because her father has the last word and he objected.
3. If a young girl makes a vow and later marries, the legality of that vow will depend upon her husband.
   1. If, when he hears of the vow, he does not object, the vow will stand.
   2. If, when he hears of the vow, he objects, her vow will not be valid but God will forgive her because her husband has the last word and he objected.
4. If a divorced or widowed woman makes a vow, she must fulfill her vow.
5. If a married woman makes a vow, again the legality of that vow depends upon her husband.
   1. If, when he hears of the vow, he does not object the vow will stand.
   2. If. when he hears of the vow he objects, her vow will not be valid and she will be forgiven, however, if the vow contains penalties the husband will be held responsible for them.

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