her. Every vow, and every oath of bond [unspec 13] to afflict the soule, her husband may esta∣blish it, and her husband may make it void.
But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then hee esta∣blisheth [unspec 14] all her vowes, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he establisheth them, because hee held his peace at her in the day that hee heard them. But if hee shall utterly make [unspec 15] them void, after that hee hath heard them, then he shall beare her iniquitie. These are [unspec 16] the statutes, which Iehovah commanded Moses, betweene a man and his wife, be∣tweene a father and his daughter, in her youth, in her fathers house.
Annotations.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here beginneth the 42. Lecture of the Law: See Gen. 6. 9.
THE heads] that is, as the Greeke translateth, [unspec 1] the Rulers (or Princes) of the Tribes. In the two former Chapters were lawes for necessary du∣ties commanded: here followeth the law for vo∣luntarie things, which people having by vow or oath taken upon them, were bound to performe. concerning the sonnes] or, to the sonnes of Israel; or as the Greeke joyneth it with the former, the Princes of the Tribes of the sonnes of Israel. It was spoken by Moses to the Princes, that by them it might be orderly communicated unto the peo∣ple; as in Exod. 12. 3. 21. and 4. 29. also that the Governours should looke unto the people for the performance of their religious promises. the thing] Hebr. the word.
Vers. 2. a vow] a religious promise to the [unspec 2] Lord. Of a vow, and how it differed from a vo∣luntary gift, see the Annotations on Levit. 27. 2. and 7. 16. and of an oath, see the notes on Levit. 5. 1. 4. And that almes promised for the poore, is comprehended also under the name of vowes, is shewed on Deut. 23. 21. a bond upon his soule] that is, to binde his soule (or himselfe) with a bond▪ Hereupon is that manner of speech, Thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are upon mee, O God, Psal. 56. 12. not vowe•• his word] not violate or breake his pro∣mise, [unspec] but shall have an holy care to keepe it. A like phrase is of prophaning a covenant, in Psal. 55. 20. and 89. 34. And as vowes might not be broken, so neither might they be delayed, Deut. 23. 21. all that proceedeth out of his mouth] that is, [unspec 4] every word of his, as the phrase is opened in Luk. 4. 4. from Deut. 8. 3. This is to be understood of good and lawfull vowes, and such as are in a mans power to performe•• for unpossible vowes are to be repented of, and wicked vowes or oathes are not to be kept, but broken, Act. 23. 21. &c.
Vers. 3. and binde a bond] to wit, upon her soule, [unspec] as ••n vers. 4. that is, bound her selfe with a bond. And, may ••••••re be used for Or (as it is often, and as the Greeke here translateth, or determine a determina∣tion) to imply either a vow to sanctifie any thing to the Lord, or a bond to restraine her selfe from something, as by afflicting her soule, or absteinance, as in vers. 13. in her fathers house] shee abi∣ding there, and being under his power. The He∣brewes (as Sol. Iarchi on this place) by house, doe understand power, saying, under the power of her fa∣ther, though she be not in his house. in her youth] youth differeth from childhood, for in her youth she understandeth what a vow is, whereof in child-hood she is ignorant. The Hebrew Canons haue li∣mited the time both for men and women, t••us: A young man that is a sonne of twelve yeares and one day, and a young woman that is a daughter of eleven yeares and one day, which doe sweare or vow, either vowes of binding (or restreint,) or vowes of sanctify∣ing (any thing to the Lord.) they doe examine them, and ask questions of them. If they know to whose name they have vowed, &c. then their vowes are stabli∣shed: but if they know not, then is there nothing in their vowes or words. And this examination is neces∣sary all that yeare, which is the twelfth yeare for a young maid, and the thirteenth yeare for a young man. Before this time, although they say, we know to whose name we have vowed, their vowes are no vowes. But after this time, when the sonne is a sonne of thirteene yeares and one day; and the daughter is a daughter of twelve yeares and one day; although they say, we know not to whose name we have vowed; their words are established, and their vowes are vowes, &c. And this is the time of vowes spoken of in every place: for as much as they are come to the yeares of great (or aged) persons, their vowes are stablished. Maimon. tom. 3. Treat. of Vowes, chap. 11. sect. 1, 3, 4.
Vers. 4. hold his peace at her] or, keepe silence at [unspec 4] it: though hee doe not by words app••••v, yet by silence hee seemeth to consent, therefore her vow standeth firme. shall stand] that is, shall be stable, firme and sure; as the field which Abraham bought, was said to stand, when by sale it was made sure, Gen. 23. 17. 20. So ones counsell or word is said to stand, when it abideth firme, Prov. 19. 21. Esay 14. 24. and 40. 8. Ier. 44. 29.
Vers. 5. disallow her] or, disallow (nulli••••e) it, [unspec 5] to wit, her vow: so after. the day that he hea∣reth] whether it be in the day that she vowed, or many daies after that her father heareth of it. If she vow and wait many daies, and afterward her father or her husband heare of it, then hee may breake it in the day that he he••reth, &c. as it is said, In the day that he heareth, and not in the day that shee voweth onely. Maimony in Vowes, chap. 12. sect. 16. will mercifully forgive her] in Greeke, will purge (or cleanse) her: her sin in vowing, (when she was not in her owne power, but in her fathers) shall be for∣given: but she may not performe her vow, which by her fathers authoritie is disanulled. So for her husband in like fort, vers. 12.
Vers. 6. if having she have a h••sband] Hebr. if [unspec 6] being she be to a man; that is, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 at all maried. or the utterance of her lips] or pronunciation; that which she hath pronounced, or distinctly ut∣tered, to wit, by oath; as appeaseth by the word Or, which distinguisheth it from her vowes: