Pinky Swears and Heart Crosses: The Cold, Hard Truth
Numbers 30
Moses covers vows in this chapter... and you likely won't be surprised to find that they're a tad (a lot) sexist.
So if you're a man when you take a vow to the LORD (swear to God?) or pledge an oath... you gotta follow through. Do everything you say.
If you're a woman, same deal...unless you still live at home. When your dad hears your vow, he can say- nope, not gonna happen and you're relieved from your vow. If he doesn't speak up, the vow stands.
Or, if you are married. When your husband hears your vow, same result. If you make the vow before getting married, once you're married your husband can nullify the vow.
Widows and divorcees are treated like man in relation to this law.
Beyond the sexism, the message here is that vows are sacred. This concept isn't foreign to our culture- our courtrooms demand swearing on a bible, we vow to tell the truth "so help us, God". I even had a student "swear on the bible" to turn an overdue speech to me posthaste (those were his words, not my requirement... and the speech was never turned in... religion major, go figure). We also use the concept of oaths regularly in less official contexts. Promising something somehow means more than just affirming.
Moses here doesn't tell them not to make oaths- just don't make them lightly. If you pledge- you better follow through. Jesus later removes the loophole- don't pledge, just be honest to start with.
Numbers 30
Moses covers vows in this chapter... and you likely won't be surprised to find that they're a tad (a lot) sexist.
So if you're a man when you take a vow to the LORD (swear to God?) or pledge an oath... you gotta follow through. Do everything you say.
If you're a woman, same deal...unless you still live at home. When your dad hears your vow, he can say- nope, not gonna happen and you're relieved from your vow. If he doesn't speak up, the vow stands.
Or, if you are married. When your husband hears your vow, same result. If you make the vow before getting married, once you're married your husband can nullify the vow.
Widows and divorcees are treated like man in relation to this law.
Beyond the sexism, the message here is that vows are sacred. This concept isn't foreign to our culture- our courtrooms demand swearing on a bible, we vow to tell the truth "so help us, God". I even had a student "swear on the bible" to turn an overdue speech to me posthaste (those were his words, not my requirement... and the speech was never turned in... religion major, go figure). We also use the concept of oaths regularly in less official contexts. Promising something somehow means more than just affirming.
Moses here doesn't tell them not to make oaths- just don't make them lightly. If you pledge- you better follow through. Jesus later removes the loophole- don't pledge, just be honest to start with.
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