Bible Commentaries
Numbers 30

Verses 1-16

6. Concerning Vows

CHAPTER 30

1. The vow of a man (Numbers 30:1-2 )

2. The vows of women (Numbers 30:3-16 )

The entire chapter treats of vows. It also has a deeper meaning. There is a sharp contrast between the vow of a man and the vows of virgins, widows or wives. The vows of women could be set aside under certain conditions. The husband or the father could disallow the vow. But if they kept their peace or if she was a widow or divorced, she had to keep the vow. It was different with the man; he was not to break his word, but to do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

The man who keeps his word, who does all that he vowed, typifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He has completely done the work He voluntarily bound Himself to do. The woman represents the nation Israel. They made a vow at Sinai which they could never keep. “Alas, when the gracious proffer of redemption came, though they had been even then long under the penalty of it, they refused redemption, held stubbornly to their broken contract, and remain under it today, the enduring lesson, published in every land, of what the law is for those who seek righteousness by it” (Numbers Numerical Bible).

Some day the vow under which Israel has put herself will be disallowed, then Israel is received back into favor. “And the Lord shall forgive her” (verse 8).