KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Genesis 28:18-22; Leviticus 7:16; Numbers 30:2-13; Deuteronomy 23:18; Judges 11:30, 39; 1 Samuel 1:11; Jonah 1:16; Acts 18:18; 21:23).

Mosaic laws concerning
Leviticus 23:37-38; Numbers 29:39

Estimation of the redemption price of things offered in vows, to be made by the priest, according to age and sex of the person making the offering
Leviticus 27:1-13

The redemption price of the offering of real estate, to be valued by the priest
Leviticus 27:14-15

The redemption price of the offering of a field, to be valued by the priest
Leviticus 27:16-25

Edible things offered in, to be eaten the same day they were offered
Leviticus 7:16-18

Things offered in, to be brought to the tabernacle or temple
Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 12:17-18; Deuteronomy 12:26

Things offered in, belonged to the priests
Numbers 18:14

Rash:

By Jephthah, in consecration of his daughter as a sacrifice, if his campaign against the Ammonites were successful
Judges 11:29-40

The Israelites, to destroy the Benjamites
Jude 1:20-21

Things forbidden to be offered in:

Receipts of the whore and price of a dog
Deuteronomy 23:18

A minor, of himself
Mark 7:11-13

Unclassified scriptures relating to
Genesis 28:20-21; Genesis 31:13; Leviticus 5:4-13; Leviticus 22:18-25; Numbers 15:2-16; Numbers 30:1-16; Deuteronomy 23:18; Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Job 22:27; Psalms 22:25; Psalms 50:14-15; Psalms 56:12; Psalms 61:5; Psalms 61:8; Psalms 65:1; Psalms 66:13-14; Psalms 76:11; Psalms 116:14-19; Proverbs 20:25; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6; Jonah 2:9; Nahum 1:15
Contract; Covenant

Instances of vows:

Of Jacob
Genesis 28:20-22

Of the mother of Micah, in the dedication of silver for the making of an idol
Judges 17:2-3

Of Hannah, to consecrate unto the Lord the child for which she prayed
1 Samuel 1:11; 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Of Elkanah
1 Samuel 1:21

Of Absalom
2 Samuel 15:7-8

Of Job, not to entertain thoughts of fornication
Job 31:1

Of David
Psalms 132:2

Of Ananias and Sapphira, in the dedication of the proceeds of the sale of their land
Acts 5:1-11

Of the Jews, to slay Paul
Acts 23:12-15

Of Jephthah
Judges 11:29-40

Of the Israelites
Judges 21:5-6
Nazarite

A vow is a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing. The earliest mention of a vow is that of Jacob. (Genesis 28:18-22; 31:13) Vows in general are also mentioned in the book of Job, (Job 22:27) The law therefore did not introduce, but regulated the practice of, vows. Three sorts are mentioned: 1, Vows of devotion; 2, Vows of abstinence; 3, Vows of destruction.

1. As to vows of devotion, the following rules are laid down: A man might devote to sacred uses possessions or persons, but not the first-born of either man or beast, which was devoted already. (Leviticus 27:28) (a) If he vowed land, he might either redeem it or not Leviticus 25,27. (b) Animals fit for sacrifice if devoted, were not to be redeemed or changed, (Leviticus 27:9; 10:33) persons devoted stood thus: devote either himself, his child (not the first-born) or his slave. If no redemption took place, the devoted person became a slave of the sanctuary: see the case of Absalom. (2 Samuel 15:8) Otherwise he might be redeemed at a valuation according to age and sex, on the scale given in (Leviticus 27:1-7) Among general regulations affecting vows the following may be mentioned: (1) Vows were entirely voluntary but once made were regarded as compulsory. (Numbers 30:2; 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4) (2) If persons In a dependent condition made vows as (a) an unmarried daughter living in her father's house, or (b) a wife, even if she afterward became a widow the vow, if (a) in the first case her father, or (b) in the second her husband, heard and disallowed it, was void; but,if they heard without disallowance, it was to remain good. (Numbers 30:3-18) (3) Votive offerings arising from the produce of any impure traffic were wholly forbidden. (23:18)
2. For vows of abstinence, see CORBAN.
3. For vows of extermination ANATHEMA and (Ezra 10:8; Micah 4:13) It seems that the practice of shaving the head at the expiration of a votive period was not limited to the Nazaritic vow. (Acts 18:18; 21:24)