Voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28: 18-22; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2-13; Deut. 23:18; Judg. 11:30, 39; 1 Sam. 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18; 21:23). A vow is a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing. The earliest mention of a vow is that of Jacob. (Genesis 28:18-22; 31:13) Vows in general are also mentioned in the book of Job, (Job 22:27) The law therefore did not introduce, but regulated the practice of, vows. Three sorts are mentioned: 1, Vows of devotion; 2, Vows of abstinence; 3, Vows of destruction. + As to vows of devotion, the following rules are laid down: A man might devote to sacred uses possessions or persons, but not the first-born of either man or beast, which was devoted already. (Leviticus 27:28) (a) If he vowed land, he might either redeem it or not Levi 25,27. (b) Animals fit for sacrifice if devoted, were not to be redeemed or changed, (Leviticus 27:9; 10:33) persons devoted stood thus: devote either himself, his child (not the first-born) or his slave. If no redemption took place, the devoted person became a slave of the sanctuary: see the case of Absalom. (2 Samuel 15:8) Otherwise he might be redeemed at a valuation according to age and sex, on the scale given in (Leviticus 27:1-7) Among general regulations affecting vows the following may be mentioned: (1) Vows were entirely voluntary but once made were regarded as compulsory. (Numbers 30:2; 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4) (2) If persons In a dependent condition made vows as (a) an unmarried daughter living in her father's house, or (b) a wife, even if she afterward became a widow the vow, if (a) in the first case her father, or (b) in the second her husband, heard and disallowed it, was void; but, if they heard without disallowance, it was to remain good. (Numbers 30:3-18) (3) Votive offerings arising from the produce of any impure traffic were wholly forbidden. (23:18) + For vows of abstinence, see [1274]Corban. + For vows of extermination [1275]Anathema and (Ezra 10:8; Micah 4:13) It seems that the practice of shaving the head at the expiration of a votive period was not limited to the Nazaritic vow. (Acts 18:18; 21:24) Solemn promises made to God -- Ps 76:11. Were made in reference to Devoting the person to God. -- Nu 6:2. Dedicating children to God. -- 1Sa 1:11. Devoting property to God. -- Ge 28:22. Offering sacrifices. -- Le 7:16; 22:18:22; Nu 15:3. Afflicting the soul. -- Nu 30:13. To be voluntary -- De 23:21,22. To be performed faithfully -- Nu 30:2. To be performed without delay -- De 23:21,23. Danger of inconsiderately making -- Pr 20:25. Of children void without the consent of parents -- Nu 30:3-5. Of married women void without consent of husbands -- Nu 30:6-8,10-13. Of widows and women divorced from their husbands binding -- Nu 30:9. Of wives, could only be objected to at the time of making -- Nu 30:14,15. Might be redeemed by paying a suitable compensation -- Le 27:1-8,11-23. Clean beasts the subjects of, not to be redeemed -- Le 27:9,10. Recorded in scripture Of Jacob. -- Ge 28:20-22; 31:13. Of Israelites. -- Nu 21:2. Of Jephthah. -- Jdj 11:30,31. Of Hannah. -- 1Sa 1:1. Of Elkanah. -- 1Sa 1:24. Of David. -- Ps 132:2-5. Of mariners who cast out Jonah. -- Jon 1:16. Of Jonah. -- Jon 2:9. Of Lemuel's mother. -- Pr 31:1,2. Of Paul. -- Ac 18:18. Of certain Jews with Paul. -- Ac 21:23,24,26. All things dedicated by, to be brought to the tabernacle -- De 12:6,11,17,18,26. Of things corrupt or blemished an insult to God -- Le 22:23; Mal 1:14. The hire of a prostitute or price of a dog could not be the subject of -- De 23:18.
Vows