Deuteronomy 33:21-23

( 22 24). Of Vows. A vow once made shall be paid without delay. God requires it, neglect is a sin (Deuteronomy 33:21). To forbear to vow is no sin, but every uttered promise of this kind must be observed (Deuteronomy 33:22 f.). In the Sg., somewhat redundant, and probably expanded (see on Deuteronomy 33:23). Why it stands here is not evident; Steuern. draws attention to the presence of vowin Deuteronomy 33:18 (19) as apparently the reason. D has already stated that vows are to be paid at the one altar (Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 12:26). There is no parallel in E, but one in P, Numbers 30:2 (3) with some identical phrases, the context of which deals with women's vows in an elaborate fashion.

For the development of the casuistry thus begun see Mishna, -Nedarîm." In ancient times the vow was regarded as an essential part of religion (also in mediaeval Christianity) and was usually associated with prayer, cp. the Greek εὐχή, often conditionally on the prayer being granted. It might be a vow that the vower would devote himself to a god's service, e.g. Jacob, Genesis 28:20-22; Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:7 f.; or the dedication of a child, Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:11, or of other living thing, Judges 11:30 (Jephthah), Malachi 1:14; Leviticus 27, or houses or land, id.Cp. Psalms 22:25 (26), Psalms 50:14; Psalms 61:8 (9), Psalms 65:1 (2), Psalms 66:13; Psalms 76:11 (12), Psalms 116:14; Psalms 116:18; Job 22:27; Ecclesiastes 5:4 f. (based on our law). All these show that vows were a religious duty, that they were frequently and lightly made, and but indifferently performed. Cp. Mark 7:10 f., Matthew 15:4 ff. For the Babylonians see Johns, op. cit.137, Code of Ḫammurabi, § 181; and for the Arabs W. R. Smith, Rel. Sem. 314 f., 462 ff.