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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Numbers 30:2 - 30:2
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At the head there stands the general rule, “If any one vow a vow to Jehovah, or swear an oath, to bind his soul to abstinence, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that has gone out of his mouth:” i.e., he shall keep or fulfil the vow, and the promise of abstinence, in perfect accordance with his word. נֶדֶר is a positive vow, or promise to give or sanctify any part of one's property to the Lord. אִסָּר, from אָסַר, to bind or fetter, the negative vow, or vow of abstinence. עַל־נַפְשֹׁו אִסָּר אֱסֹר, to take an abstinence upon his soul. In what such abstinence consisted is not explained, because it was well understood from traditional customs; in all probability it consisted chiefly in fasting and other similar abstinence from lawful things. The Nazarite's vow, which is generally reckoned among the vows of abstinence, is called neder in Num 6:2., not issar, because it consisted not merely in abstinence from the fruit of the vine, but also in the positive act of permitting the hair to grow freely in honour of the Lord. The expression “swear an oath” (Num 30:2; cf. Num 30:13) shows that, as a rule, they bound themselves to abstinence by an oath. The inf. constr., הִשָּׁבַא, is used here, as in other places, for the inf. abs. (cf. Ges. §131, 4, note 2). יַחֵל, from חָלַל, for יָחֵל, as in Eze 39:7 (cf. Ges. §67, note 8), to desecrate (his word), i.e., to leave it unfulfilled or break it.