Smith's Bible Dictionary
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Vows
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. Ge 28:18-22; 31:13 Vows in general are also mentioned in the book of Job, 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.
1. 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. Le 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, Le 27:9; 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. 2Sa 15:8 Otherwise he might be redeemed at a valuation according to age and sex, on the scale given in Le 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. Nu 30:2; De 23:21; Ec 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. Nu 30:3-18 (3) Votive offerings arising from the produce of any impure traffic were wholly forbidden. De 23:18
2. For vows of abstinence, see CORBAN.
3. For vows of extermination ANATHEMA and
Ezr 10:8; Mic 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. Ac 18:18; 21:24
Bibliography Information
Smith, William, Dr "Meaning and Definition for 'vows' in Smiths Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Smith's; 1901.
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