Laws Concerning Vows
1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the Israelites and said, “This is what the Lord has commanded:
2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or enters into a binding agreement, he shall not break his word. He shall do everything he said he would do.
3 Also, when a young woman makes a vow to the Lord or enters into binding agreement while she is still living in her father’s home, 4 and her father hears of it and does not object to the agreement, then the entire agreement shall stand. 5 But if her father objects when he hears of it, none of the agreement she has entered into shall stand. The Lord will not hold her accountable because her father has voiced his objection.
6 If she is either engaged or married when she makes either an agreement or a rash commitment, 7 and her fiancé or husband does not immediately object when he hears of it, then all of her agreements and commitments shall stand. 8 But if her fiancé or husband objects when he hears of it, then the agreement or commitment will be null and void. The Lord will not hold her accountable.
9 Every binding agreement that a widow or divorced woman enters into will be valid.
10 If a woman entered into an agreement while she was living in her husband’s house, 11 and her husband heard of it and did not voice his objection or nullify the agreement, then the entire agreement and every commitment she made shall be valid and binding. 12 But if her husband objected, then whatever agreement or commitment she made will be null and void. Her husband voided it, and the Lord will not hold her accountable.
13 A husband may either establish or void every binding agreement or commitment his wife enters into. 14 But if her husband says nothing when he hears of it, then by his silence all of the agreements and commitments that she has entered into will be valid and binding. He has confirmed the agreements because he said nothing when he heard of it. 15 If he delays in objecting after he has heard of it, then he will bear all of the responsibility for her agreements and commitments.”
16 These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter living with him.