Numbers 30

Commentary from 2 fathers

AND Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.

ΚΑΙ ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ κατὰ πάντα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ.

И҆ глаго́ла мѡѷсе́й сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ по всѣ̑мъ, є҆ли̑ка заповѣ́да гдⷭ҇ь мѡѷсе́ю:

And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the Lord has commanded.

καὶ ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας τῶν φυλῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ συνέταξε Κύριος·

и҆ глаго́ла мѡѷсе́й кнѧзє́мъ племе́нъ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, глаго́лѧ: сїѐ сло́во, є҆́же повелѣ̀ гдⷭ҇ь.

GK Chesterton †1936

30:2

The idea, or at any rate the ideal, of the thing called a vow is fairly obvious. It is to combine the fixity that goes with finality with the self-respect that only goes with freedom. The man is a slave who is his own master, and a king who is his own ancestor. For all kinds of social purposes he has the calculable orbit of the man in the caste or the servile state; but in the story of his own soul he is still pursuing, at great peril, his own adventure. As seen by his neighbours, he is as safe as if immured in a fortress; but as seen by himself he may be for ever careering through the sky or crashing towards the earth in a flying-ship. What is socially humdrum is produced by what is individually heroic; and a city is made not merely of citizens but knight-errants.

The Superstition of Divorce, Ch. 6: The Story of the Vow

Procopius of Gaza †528

30:2

If it is a serious matter to lie to another person, how much more to lie to God. When Scripture describes his majesty, it says that God is in heaven above, and you are on the earth below. This passage was written for us to imitate God, who said, "I will not break my covenant." He says this about the life of each man: that is, if one has vowed abstinence from food, or shaving his head, or the offering of a sheep or a calf. Malachi commands that the best offerings should be brought forth when he says, "Cursed is he who has a male animal in his flock and makes a vow and then offers a blemished animal to the Lord."The daughter of Jephthah preferred to undergo death rather than to render her father's vow unfulfilled and mendacious. She did not know that she was the type of the saving Victim, whom she prefigured in herself. For this reason Jephthah's deed was immune to guilt. It is not a model, because it does not follow the law. The deed was permitted only once, as a sign, for God rejects human sacrifice. Moreover, what is undertaken by children to the disgrace of their parents does not merit the name of vow, despite those wicked doctors and teachers who tell their parents that "whatever you would have received from me is Corban." For God commands us to honor father and mother in all cases. A man who infringes on the vow of his new bride, which she made without her father's approval, [does not sin]. The same applies to a married man who does not consent to a vow his wife made. For what is vowed when the woman is subject to a greater power, if it is not carried out, does not make her guilty. But if the woman becomes a widow or is separated from her husband, her vow is binding. This ancient institution of God is confirmed because the woman was made for the sake of the man, and it is just for her to obey him. There is also that verse from Paul, that the woman should revere the man. Scripture gives a similar explanation for matters concerning affliction of the soul, fasting and other practices, when it says, concerning the month of fasting, "In that month you will afflict your souls."

CATENA ON THE OCTATEUCH, ON NUMBERS 30:2

Whatsoever man shall vow a vow to the Lord, or swear an oath, or bind himself with an obligation upon his soul, he shall not break his word; all that shall come out of his mouth he shall do.

ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἂν εὔξηται εὐχὴν Κυρίῳ ἢ ὀμόσῃ ὅρκον ἢ ὁρίσηται ὁρισμῷ περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ βεβηλώσει τὸ ρῆμα αὐτοῦ· πάντα ὅσα ἂν ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, ποιήσει·

Человѣ́къ человѣ́къ, и҆́же а҆́ще ѡ҆бѣща́етъ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆лѝ заклене́тсѧ клѧ́твою, и҆лѝ ѡ҆предѣли́тъ предѣ́ломъ ѡ҆ дꙋшѝ свое́й, не ѡ҆скверна́витъ словесѐ своегѡ̀: всѧ̑, є҆ли̑ка и҆зы́дꙋтъ и҆з̾ ᲂу҆́стъ є҆гѡ̀, да сотвори́тъ.

And if a woman shall vow a vow to the Lord, or bind herself with an obligation in her youth in her father’s house; and her father should hear her vows and her obligations, wherewith she has bound her soul, and her father should hold his peace at her, then all her vows shall stand,

ἐὰν δὲ εὔξηται γυνὴ εὐχὴν Κυρίῳ ἢ ὁρίσηται ὁρισμὸν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ νεότητι αὐτῆς καὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῆς ὁ πατήρ, καὶ στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς,

А҆́ще же ѡ҆бѣща́етъ жена̀ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆лѝ ѡ҆предѣли́тъ ѡ҆предѣле́нїе въ домꙋ̀ ѻ҆тца̀ своегѡ̀ въ ю҆́ности свое́й,

and all the obligations with which she has bound her soul, shall remain to her.

καὶ πάντες οἱ ὁρισμοί, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, μενοῦσιν αὐτῇ.

и҆ ᲂу҆слы́шитъ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀ и҆ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ є҆ѧ̀, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, и҆ премолчи́тъ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀, и҆ да состоѧ́тсѧ всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀, и҆ всѧ̑ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, да пребꙋ́дꙋтъ є҆́й.

But if her father straitly forbid [her] in the day in which he shall hear all her vows and her obligations, which she has contracted upon her soul, they shall not stand; and the Lord shall hold her guiltless, because her father forbade her.

ἐὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς, ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ πάσας τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμούς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ στήσονται· καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτήν, ὅτι ἀνένευσεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς.

А҆́ще же возбране́нїемъ возбрани́тъ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀, во́ньже де́нь ᲂу҆слы́шитъ всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀ и҆ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, не состоѧ́тсѧ: и҆ гдⷭ҇ь ѡ҆чи́ститъ ю҆̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ возбранѝ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀.

But if she should be indeed married, and her vows be upon her according to the utterance of her lips, in respect of [the obligations] which she has contracted upon her soul;

ἐὰν δὲ γενομένη γένηται ἀνδρὶ καὶ αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς ἐπ’ αὐτῇ κατὰ τὴν διαστολὴν τῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς,

А҆́ще же посѧ́гла за мꙋ́жа, и҆ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀ на не́й, по ѡ҆предѣле́нїи ᲂу҆́стъ є҆ѧ̀, є҆ли̑ка ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀,

and her husband should hear, and hold his peace at her in the day in which he should hear, then thus shall all her vows be binding, and her obligations, which she has contracted upon her soul shall stand.

καὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ, ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, καὶ οὕτω στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, στήσονται.

и҆ ᲂу҆слы́шитъ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀, и҆ премолчи́тъ є҆́й, во́ньже де́нь ᲂу҆слы́шитъ, и҆ та́кѡ состоѧ́тсѧ всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀, и҆ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ є҆ѧ̀, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, да состоѧ́тсѧ.

But if her husband should straitly forbid [her] in the day in which he should hear her, none of her vows or obligations which she has contracted upon her soul shall stand, because her husband has disallowed her, and the Lord shall hold her guiltless.

ἐὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, ᾗ ἐὰν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ μενοῦσιν, ὅτι ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀνένευσεν ἀπ’ αὐτῆς, καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτήν.

А҆́ще же возбране́нїемъ возбрани́тъ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀, во́ньже де́нь ᲂу҆слы́шитъ всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀ и҆ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ є҆ѧ̀, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, да не пребꙋ́дꙋтъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ мꙋ́жъ возбранѝ є҆́й: и҆ гдⷭ҇ь ѡ҆чи́ститъ ю҆̀.

And the vow of a widow and of her that is put away, whatsoever she shall bind upon her soul, shall stand to her.

καὶ εὐχὴ χήρας καὶ ἐκβεβλημένης ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξηται κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, μενοῦσιν αὐτῇ.

И҆ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ вдови́цы и҆ пꙋщени́цы, є҆ли̑ка а҆́ще ѡ҆бѣща́ютъ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀, да пребꙋ́дꙋтъ и҆̀мъ.

And if her vow [be made] in the house of her husband, or the obligation upon her soul with an oath,

ἐὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἡ εὐχὴ αὐτῆς ἢ ὁ ὁρισμὸς κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς μεθ’ ὅρκου

А҆́ще же въ домꙋ̀ мꙋ́жа є҆ѧ̀ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ є҆ѧ̀ и҆лѝ ѡ҆предѣле́нїе, є҆́же на дꙋ́шꙋ є҆ѧ̀ съ клѧ́твою,

and her husband should hear, and hold his peace at her, and not disallow her, then all her vows shall stand, and all the obligations which she contracted against her soul, shall stand against her.

καὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ καὶ μὴ ἀνανεύσῃ αὐτῇ, καὶ στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ πάντες οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, στήσονται κατ’ αὐτῆς.

и҆ ᲂу҆слы́шитъ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀, и҆ премолчи́тъ є҆́й, и҆ не возбрани́тъ є҆́й, и҆ состоѧ́тсѧ всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀, и҆ всѧ̑ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ є҆ѧ̀, ꙗ҆̀же ѡ҆предѣлѝ на дꙋ́шꙋ свою̀ да состоѧ́тсѧ на ню̀.

But if her husband should utterly cancel the vow in the day in which he shall hear it, none of the things which shall proceed out of her lips in her vows, and in the obligations [contracted] upon her soul, shall stand to her; her husband has canceled them, and the Lord shall hold her guiltless.

ἐὰν δὲ περιελὼν περιέλῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, πάντα ὅσα ἐὰν ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς κατὰ τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς τοὺς κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ μενεῖ αὐτῇ· ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς περιεῖλε, καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτήν.

А҆́ще же ѿлꙋча́ѧ ѿлꙋчи́тъ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀, во́ньже де́нь ᲂу҆слы́шитъ, всѧ̑ є҆ли̑ка и҆зыдо́ша и҆з̾ ᲂу҆́стъ є҆ѧ̀ по ѡ҆бѣ́тѡмъ є҆ѧ̀ и҆ по ѡ҆предѣле́нїємъ є҆ѧ̀ ꙗ҆̀же на дꙋ́шꙋ є҆ѧ̀, не пребꙋ́дꙋтъ є҆́й: мꙋ́жъ бо є҆ѧ̀ ѿлꙋчи́лъ є҆́сть, и҆ гдⷭ҇ь ѡ҆чи́ститъ ю҆̀.

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband shall confirm it to her, or her husband shall cancel it.

πᾶσα εὐχὴ καὶ πᾶς ὅρκος δεσμοῦ κακῶσαι ψυχήν, ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς στήσει αὐτῇ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς περιελεῖ.

Всѧ́къ ѡ҆бѣ́тъ и҆ всѧ́ка клѧ́тва соꙋ́за во є҆́же ѡ҆ѕло́бити дꙋ́шꙋ, мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀ поста́витъ є҆́й, и҆ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀ ѿи́метъ.

But if he be wholly silent at her from day to day, then shall he bind upon her all her vows; and he shall confirm to her the obligations [which she has bound] upon herself, because he held his peace at her in the day in which he heard her.

ἐὰν δὲ σιωπῶν παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας, καὶ στήσει αὐτῇ πάσας τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς, καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς τοὺς ἐπ’ αὐτῆς στήσει αὐτῇ, ὅτι ἐσιώπησεν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ ἤκουσεν.

А҆́ще же молча̀ премолчи́тъ є҆́й де́нь ѿ днѐ, и҆ поста́витъ є҆́й всѧ̑ ѡ҆бѣ́ты є҆ѧ̀, и҆ ѡ҆предѣлє́нїѧ ꙗ҆̀же на не́й, поста́витъ є҆́й, ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆молча̀ є҆́й въ де́нь, во́ньже ᲂу҆слы́ша.

And if her husband should in any wise cancel [them] after the day in which he heard [them], then he shall bear his iniquity.

ἐὰν δὲ περιελὼν περιέλῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς μετὰ τὴν ἡμέραν, ἣν ἤκουσε, καὶ λήψεται τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ.

А҆́ще же ѿлꙋча́ѧ ѿлꙋчи́тъ мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀ по днѝ, во́ньже ᲂу҆слы́ша, и҆ прїи́метъ грѣ́хъ сво́й.

These [are] the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and daughter in [her] youth in the house of [her] father.

ταῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα, ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ, ἀνὰ μέσον ἀνδρὸς καὶ γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναμέσον πατρὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς ἐν νεότητι ἐν οἴκῳ πατρός.

Сїѧ̑ ѡ҆правда̑нїѧ, є҆ли̑ка заповѣ́да гдⷭ҇ь мѡѷсе́ю, междꙋ̀ мꙋ́жемъ и҆ междꙋ̀ жено́ю є҆гѡ̀, и҆ междꙋ̀ ѻ҆тце́мъ и҆ дще́рїю въ ю҆́ности є҆ѧ̀, въ домꙋ̀ ѻ҆́тчи.