Dict: smith - VOWS

smith:

VOWS - V>@ - A vow is a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing. The earliest mention of a vow is that of Jacob. kjv@Genesis:28:18-22 kjv@Genesis:31:13) Vows in general are also mentioned in the book of Job, kjv@Job:22:27) The law therefore did not introduce, but regulated the practice of, vows. Three sorts are mentioned: 1, Vows of devotion; 2, Vows of abstinence; 3, Vows of destruction. As to vows of devotion, the following rules are laid down: A man might devote to sacred uses possessions or persons, but not the first-born of either man or beast, which was devoted already. kjv@Leviticus:27:28) (a) If he vowed land, he might either redeem it or not Levi 25-27. (b) Animals fit for sacrifice if devoted, were not to be redeemed or changed, kjv@Leviticus:27:9 kjv@Leviticus:10:33) persons devoted stood thus: devote either himself, his child (not the first-born) or his slave. If no redemption took place, the devoted person became a slave of the sanctuary: see the case of Absalom. (2 Samuel 15:8) Otherwise he might be redeemed at a valuation according to age and sex, on the scale given in kjv@Leviticus:27:1-7) Among general regulations affecting vows the following may be mentioned:

(1) Vows were entirely voluntary but once made were regarded as compulsory. kjv@Numbers:30:2 kjv@Numbers:23:21; kjv@Ecclesiastes:5:4)

(2) If persons In a dependent condition made vows as (a) an unmarried daughter living in her father’s house, or (b) a wife, even if she afterward became a widow the vow, if (a) in the first case her father, or (b) in the second her husband, heard and disallowed it, was void; but,if they heard without disallowance, it was to remain good. kjv@Numbers:30:3-18)

(3) Votive offerings arising from the produce of any impure traffic were wholly forbidden. (23:18) For vows of abstinence, see CORBAN. For vows of extermination ANATHEMA and kjv@Ezra:10:8; kjv@Micah:4:13) It seems that the practice of shaving the head at the expiration of a votive period was not limited to the Nazaritic vow. kjv@Acts:18:18 kjv@Acts:21:24)