Dr. Claude Mariottini – Professor of Old Testament states:
In a recent post, “A Biblical Basis For Mary’s Perpetual Virginity,” Brant Pitre at
Singing in the Reign wrote that Numbers 30, a chapter dedicated to vows taken by women, provides a biblical basis for the Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary
is wrong.
Numbers 30 proves the existence of vows, not a biblical basis for the Catholic doctrine of the PVM. Numbers 30 points to it.
First, let me summarize Pitre’s argument. Pitre said that “according to some commentators, it [Numbers 30] appears to specifically be concerned with vows of sexual abstinence taken by married women” (emphasis his).
Pitre emphasizes that the key to understanding the chapter on vows made by women is Numbers 30:13. He cites 30:13-15 as follows (the emphasis in verses 13-15 are his):
Context: Vows to “Afflict Herself”
Numbers 30
[13] Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void. [
14] But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows, or all her pledges, that are upon her; he has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them.
[15] But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.”
Pitre quotes Jacob Milgrom in order to explain that “to afflict herself” in Numbers 30:13 [H 30:14] means to abstain from sexual intercourse. Pitre wrote:
That's not the point Dr. Pitre makes. The point is the historical existence of vows.
Dr. Claude:
"Pitre concluded that Numbers 30 deals with a vow of sexual abstinence, he applied his interpretation to Mary and her relationship with Joseph. He said that Mary “took a vow of sexual abstinence, and her legal husband–in our case, Joseph–heard of the vow and said nothing, then the vow stands, and she is bound to keep it. This provides a solid
historical basis for Joseph and Mary having a perpetually virginal marriage.”
A
historical basis for the existence of vows. Dr. Claude doesn't get it. Then he says,
"Thus, Pitre’s exegesis of Numbers 30 does not provide a biblical basis for the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Numbers 30 deals with vows women made that required payment of goods or property. The regulation was enacted because fathers and husbands were responsible to make good on the vows their daughters and wives made. In addition, the prohibition of abstaining from sexual relations, which Pitre applies to Numbers 30, refers not to women’s vows, but to the priest and Levites serving on the Day of Atonement."
Straw man. Priests and Levites serving on the Day of Atonement are not married women, who have taken vows of sexual abstinence, binding if the husband says nothing.