If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
Ver. 2. If a man vow a vow unto the Lord.] God is the proper object of a vow. Psa 76:11 Papists vow to saints, both themselves, as to Francis, Austin, Dominick, &c., and other things, as pilgrimages, oblations, &c. Our Lady, as they call her, of Loretto, hath her churches so stuffed with vowed presents and memories, as they are fain to hang their cloisters and churchyards with them. a This is sacrilege; yea, it is idolatry.
To bind his soul with a bond.] Which none ought to do, but such as (1.) are free, or have the consent of their governors; (2.) Such as have knowledge and judgment to discern of a vow or oath; Ecclesiastes 5:3 ; Ecc 5:5 (3.) Are conscientious, as Jacob, Hannah, &c. Not such votaries as Herod, Mat 14:7 those assassins, Act 23:14 those idolaters. Jer 44:27
He shall not break his word.] If he do, he will make a great breach in his conscience and crack his comfort exceedingly. "Better not vow than not pay." Ecc 5:4 It is a sin as bad or worse than perjury, and God takes it heavily at men's hands. Jer 34:10-11
a Sandys's Relation of West. Relig., sect. 4.