In parsha Matot, Moses presents God’s law regulating vows. All vows must be fulfilled. However, when an unmarried woman or a wife makes a vow, her promise is good only if her father or husband offers no objection to it. By contrast, the vow of a widow or divorced woman is binding upon her. These details point out that women could make vows and were held responsible for them unless the head of the household disagreed with the vow.
I am assuming that for the most part the head of the household would not want to step in and nullify the vow of his daughter or wife. The head of the household perhaps would have a more “global” perspective about the ramifications of any promises made by an individual in the family. There are those who look at this Torah portion as sexist, which it is using the sensibilities of a modern person. We always have to remember that the Torah was written 3,500 years ago.
In many ways it is a document advanced for its time but in other ways it reflects the time in which it was written. Ancient societies were sexist, women did not have the same rights or responsibilities that men enjoyed. So when we judge the passages in the Torah let us always remember when they were written and pay close attention to the remarkable insights we can learn from its teachings.
Speak Your Mind