Let Our Promise Stand Firm As A Rock
For September 7, 2022
Deuteronomy 23:22
כִּֽי־תִדֹּ֥ר נֶ֙דֶר֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תְאַחֵ֖ר לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹ כִּֽי־דָרֹ֨שׁ יִדְרְשֶׁ֜נּוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא׃
"When you make a vow to the L-rd, your G-d, you shall not delay in paying it, for the L-rd, your G-d, will demand if of you, and it will be [counted as] a sin for you"
A Noahide who vows to bring a burnt offering to G-d must keep his word, and so must one who verbally pledges money to charity.
Although this is not specifically mentioned in the Divine Code, it seems to me a logical conclusion that this applies not only to a burnt offering, but to everything that one promises God.
The obligation to fulfil vows rests solely on moral human reason, and it is not a direct commandment. Because a Noahide does not have a specific commandement to fulfill any promises or vows he makes, and Noahides have not been warned against transgressing their words. But even though Noahides were not commanded regarding this, as a thing wich is obligatory according ot human intelligence, every person is obligated to keep his word, and how much more so not to lie about the past.
It falls under the rules to make a habitable, fair world. So let our word stand firm as a rock
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners and intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
The Divine Code p. 220 and 221
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.
NoahideAcademy.org's copyright policy.
Comments