NUMBERS LESSON 37


     We will begin this lesson in Numbers 30:1 "And Moses spake unto
the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying,
This [is] the thing which the LORD hath commanded."

     The head of each tribe was, in a sense, responsible for teaching
the people under them the ways of God. Moses brings this particular
message to the attention of these leaders. Notice, that this is a
commandment.

     Numbers 30:2 "If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath
to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do
according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."

     This is explaining the seriousness of making a vow. This is,
probably, speaking of making a promise to the LORD. What ever a man
promises God, he must do, without exception. A vow is not something
you can change your mind about.

     Numbers 30:3 "If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind
[herself] by a bond, [being] in her father's house in her youth;"

     A young girl in her father's house was subject to her father, so
her vow would be taken differently. She may make a vow that her father
would not allow her to keep.

     Numbers 30:4 "And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith
she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her:
then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound
her soul shall stand."

     The father not saying anything, showed that he approved of the
vow, and he cannot cause her not to keep the vow. He should have
spoken up, if he did not want her making the vow. It is her obligation
to keep the vow, and the father's obligation to allow her to keep it.

     Numbers 30:5 "But if her father disallow her in the day that he
heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound
her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her
father disallowed her."

     The girl cannot overrule her father. If he has protested the vow
and will not let her keep it, then she cannot be held responsible for
not keeping the vow. It is not her fault, that she cannot keep the
vow, and she is released from the vow.

    Numbers 30:6 "And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or
uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;"

     Her husband is the same, as her father was, in the verse above.
Her vow is just as good, as her husband will allow her to keep.

     Numbers 30:7 "And her husband heard [it], and held his peace at
her in the day that he heard [it]: then her vows shall stand, and her
bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand."

     This is saying, that if her husband heard the vow and approved of
it, she should be allowed to keep the vow.

     Numbers 30:8 "But if her husband disallowed her on the day that
he heard [it]; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that
which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none
effect: and the LORD shall forgive her."

     This, again, is saying that she could not keep the vow, because
her husband would not allow her to. She is not held responsible for
the vow in that case, and God forgives her of the vow.

     Numbers 30:9 "But every vow of a widow, and of her that is
divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against
her."

     She is responsible for her own vow, if she is not under the
authority of an husband.

     Numbers 30:10 "And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound
her soul by a bond with an oath;"

     This is speaking of a married woman living with her husband. The
husband can allow, or disallow, her vow, as her father did.

     Numbers 30:11 "And her husband heard [it], and held his peace at
her, [and] disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and
every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand."

     If he allows her to make the vow, and he knows about it, she is
responsible to keep the vow, and he is responsible to let her keep the
vow.

     Numbers 30:12 "But if her husband hath utterly made them void on
the day he heard [them; then] whatsoever proceeded out of her lips
concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not
stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive
her."

     In this case, he did not approve the vow. He will not let her
keep the vow, and she cannot be held responsible. God will forgive
her.

     Numbers 30:13 "Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the
soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void."

     The husband is the authority over the wife in the flesh. He can
disallow her vows, or honor them, as he chooses.

     Numbers 30:14 "But if her husband altogether hold his peace at
her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her
bonds, which [are] upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his
peace at her in the day that he heard [them]."

     This is saying, if he was aware she made the vow, and did nothing
about it at the time, he cannot go back later and not allow her to
keep them. He confirmed her vow with his silence.

     Numbers 30:15 "But if he shall any ways make them void after that
he hath heard [them]; then he shall bear her iniquity."

     If he disallows her vow at a later date, he is responsible for
the sin. She is not responsible.

     Numbers 30:16 "These [are] the statutes, which the LORD commanded
Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his
daughter, [being yet] in her youth in her father's house."

     This is explaining the authority of the father in his own home,
and the authority of the husband in his own home.

     In the New Testament, we read of a husband and wife who broke
their vow to God. In the case of Annanias and Sapphira vowing to the
Holy Ghost,  they were each responsible for their own vow. They were
each killed, because they each lied to the Holy Ghost. The difference
is that this case was a spiritual promise made to God. The lesson
above, is speaking of the authority of her husband, or father, over
her flesh in the home.


























                        Numbers 37 Questions


1.  Who did Moses speak to?
2.  Why did he speak to them?
3.  What is verse 2 speaking of?
4.  This promise is made to the _______.
5.  A vow is not something you can ________ your mind about.
6.  A young girl in her father's house was subject to her _________.
7.  If the father holds his peace, when she vows, the vow _________.
8.  The father, by not saying anything, showed what?
9.  It is her obligation to keep the vow, and his obligation to ____
    ____ to keep it.
10. Is she responsible, if the father disallows the vow?
11. Why does the LORD forgive her?
12. What if it is her husband?
13. Is the same thing true for a widow, as a wife?
14. Quote Numbers chapter 30 verse 13.
15. What if her husband heard the vow, and said nothing for several
    days, and then would not let her keep it, who is responsible?
16. What is this lesson conveying about authority in the home?
17. Who are a husband and wife, in the New Testament, who lied to God?
18. Who was killed for their lies?