Numbers 5:24

24 and he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her as bitter.

Numbers 5:24 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:24

And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that
causeth the curse
. Having the curse imprecated upon herself, if guilty, scraped into it; and this she was obliged to drink, whether she would or not; so it is said, if the roll is blotted out, and she says I am defiled, the water is poured out, and her offering is scattered in the place of ashes; if the roll is blotted out, and she says I will not drink, then force her, and make her drink whether she will or no ^F26:

and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, [and become]
bitter;
produce the sad and bitter effects mentioned.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Misnah, ut supra, (Sotah) c. 3. sect. 3.

Numbers 5:24 In-Context

22 and this water that causes the curse shall go into thy bowels and cause thy belly to swell and thy thigh to fail. And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.

23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water;

24 and he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her as bitter.

25 Then the priest shall take the present of jealousy out of the woman’s hand and shall wave the offering before the LORD and offer it before the altar.

26 And the priest shall take a handful of the present, in memory of her, and incense it upon the altar and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.