Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of Israel after the Lord had spoken to him again. He said, "This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a promise, he must not break his word. He must do everything he has spoken.
If a young woman living in her father's house makes a vow or a pledge, and her father hears it but says nothing, her vow will stand. But if her father forbids her when he hears it, her vow is canceled, and the Lord will release her because her father has overruled it.
If she makes a vow and later marries, and her husband hears it but says nothing, her vow will stand. But if her husband forbids it the moment he hears it, he cancels her vow or the rash promise from her lips, and the Lord will release her.
Any vow made by a widow or a divorced woman stands firm, because she has no one over her to cancel it.
If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or binds herself by a pledge, and her husband hears it but says nothing, her vow will stand. But if he cancels it when he hears it, the vow is nullified, and she is freed from it by the Lord.
A husband has the right to confirm or cancel any vow or oath made by his wife to deny herself. If he remains silent day after day after hearing of it, his silence makes the vow binding. But if he cancels it later after being silent, he will bear her guilt."
These are the instructions the Lord gave Moses about the authority of fathers over their daughters and husbands over their wives regarding vows and promises made to the Lord.