A vow is primarily a promise to give something to God or some other deity, like a vow to make an offering. An oath is primarily a promise to do something on behalf of or against someone else. A man must keep any vows or oaths he makes to God. No man may annul such vows without consequences. By making the breaking of a vow into a sin, Torah gives men the ability to create new Torah commands for themselves (but not necessarily for others).

A man has authority to annul a promise or obligation of his wife or daughter on the same day he hears of it. God's family blueprint is patriarchal. If you don't like it, take it up with him. God has done and said a number of things that I am uncomfortable with, but I'm only uncomfortable because I don't have a perfect understanding of how the world works. God has no such handicap.

#numbers 30 #matot #patriarchy #marriage