John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. But every vow of a widow , etc.] The Scripture speaks, as Jarchi says, of a widow from marriage, or that has been married, but a widow from espousals (or that has been only espoused), the husband dead, the power is transmitted, and returns to the father; and with respect to such a case, it is said in the Misnah f451 “if the father (of such a betrothed person) dies, the power is not transmitted to the husband; but if the husband dies, the power is transmitted to the father; in this case, greater is the power of a father than of an husband; in others, greater is the power of an husband than of a father, because an husband makes void (the vow of) one at age, but a father does not make void (the vow of) such an one:” and of her that is divorced : from her husband on some account or another; now in each of these cases, the one being loosed from the law of her husband by death, and the other by a bill of divorce, if they vowed, the vows wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand against her ; against either of them, they having none over them to disapprove of, contradict, and make void their vows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-16 - Two cases of vows are determined. The case of a daughter in he father's house. When her vow comes to his knowledge, it is in his powe either to confirm it or do it away. The law is plain in the case of wife. If her husband allows her vow, though only by silence, it stands If he disallows it, her obligation to her husband takes place of it for to him she ought to be in subjection, as unto the Lord. The Divin law consults the good order of families. It is fit that every ma should bear rule in his own house, and have his wife and children i subjection; rather than that this great rule should be broken, or an encouragement be given to inferior relations to break those bond asunder, God releases the obligation even of a solemn vow. So much doe religion secure the welfare of all societies; and in it the families of the earth have a blessing _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ונדר5088 אלמנה490 וגרושׁה1644 כל3605 אשׁר834 אסרה631 על5921 נפשׁה5315 יקום6965 עליה׃5921
