John Calvin Commentary Numbers 30:9

"But the vow of a widow, or of her that is divorced, [even] everything wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand against her." — Numbers 30:9 (ASV)

But every vow of a widow. I have stated why widows are expressly named, namely, lest a woman should think that by a second marriage she would escape, believing herself to be no longer free and again under the yoke; since by such subtle excuses people often extricate themselves.

No other subject is referred to down to the end of the last verse but one; for they have made a very gross mistake, who interpret it as applying to a family and its master. ³²⁷ The subject itself certainly does not admit of such an explanation; and the words of Moses forbid it: so that it is the more surprising that persons skilled in the Hebrew language have not seen the matter clearly.

³²⁷ Ver. 10, , ואם-בית אישה. Literally, “And if the house of her husband.” . Literally, “And if the house of her husband.” C. and . and A.V. follow follow LXX. in assuming that the preposition in assuming that the preposition in should be supplied before should be supplied before the house. S.M., on the other hand, translates the word on the other hand, translates the word בית, family, which is undeniably allowable; but says in a note, “By family, is to be understood the wife here, as the chief personage in it after its master.” To this treatment of the text which is undeniably allowable; but says in a note, “By family, is to be understood the wife here, as the chief personage in it after its master.” To this treatment of the text C. here adverts, as strange on the part of one so skillful in the Hebrew tongue. — . here adverts, as strange on the part of one so skillful in the Hebrew tongue. — W