When: Genesis 28:20-22; Numbers 6:2, Numbers 21:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Judges 11:30-31, Judges 11:39; 1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 1:28
a singular vow: A vow is a religious promise made to God, for the most part with prayer, and paid with thanksgiving. Vows were either of abstinence (Numbers 6:1-27 and Numbers 30:1-16), or the devoting of something to the Lord, as sacrifices (Leviticus 7:16), or the value of persons, beasts, houses, or lands, concerning which the law is here given. A man might vow or devote himself, his children, his domestics, his cattle, his goods, etc.; and respecting the redemption of all these, rules are laid down in this chapter. But if, after consecrating these things, he refused to redeem them, they then became the Lord's property forever. The persons continued all their lives devoted to the sanctuary, the goods were sold for the profit of the temple, or the priests; and the animals, if clean, were offered in sacrifice; and if not proper for sacrifice, were sold, and the proceeds devoted to sacred uses. This is a general view of the different laws relative to vows, mentioned in this chapter. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5