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UTN uW Translation Notes:

Numbers 30 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

4. At the plains of Moab (22:1–36:13) * Vows and agreements by women (30:1–15) In this chapter, Moses recounts instructions concerning vows and agreements made by women. The instructions deal with four situations: an unmarried woman living with her parents, a woman who has recently gotten married, a divorced woman or widow, and a woman who is married. In each case, if the woman is part of a man’s household, the man is responsible for confirming or nullifying the woman’s vow or agreement.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Household structure and authority

In this culture, the person who had authority over the whole household was the oldest male. So, a daughter living at home with her parents or a married woman living with her husband was under the authority of the man, whether her father or her husband. However, for a widow or divorced woman, there was no man with authority over her. Given this way of structuring households, this chapter indicates that the person in charge of the household (unusually the husband or father) was responsible for confirming or nullifying any promises or agreements made by the women in the household.

Vows

Vows were promises that a person made to God. Often, the person would ask God to do something and then promise to do something or give something to God if God did what the person asked. Consider how you might refer to this kind of solemn promise made to God. (See: oath)

Oaths

Oaths were statements that confirmed promises and commitments. Oaths could call God as witness, or they could specify the consequences if the promise or commitment was broken. Consider how you might refer to this kind of solemn confirming statement. (See: oath)

Bonds

The word translated as “bond” in this chapter occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. Scholars debate exactly what it means. It could refer to a promise not to do something, while “vow” refers to a promise to do something. More likely, it refers to a binding agreement, sometimes written, with a person or people. The UST follows that interpretation. Consider how you might refer to a binding agreement between people.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

What is the class of the woman in 30:10–15?

Some scholars argue that [30:10–15](../30/10.md) or [30:10–12](../30/10.md) continues to speak about the same woman as [30:9](../30/09.md) does: a divorced or widowed woman. In this case, 30:10–15 or 30:10–12 refer to the time before the woman was widowed or divorced. Other scholars argue that 3:10–15 deal with a new situation: a woman who is married when she makes vows or agreements. This seems to make more sense of the present tense verbs in [30:12](../30/12.md). The UST follows this interpretation.

Parallel NUM 30:0