Numbers 5:26

26 Then he shall take a handful of it as a token offering and burn it on the altar. Finally, he shall make the woman drink the water.

Numbers 5:26 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:26

And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, [even]
the memorial thereof
For good or evil, according as her works were, as Aben Ezra observes; a memorial for good, if innocent, and a memorial for evil, if guilty:

and burn [it] upon the altar;
as the handful of other meat offerings used to be, ( Leviticus 1:2 ) ;

and afterwards shall cause the woman to drink the water;
oblige her to it; having proceeded thus far, and no confession made, namely, an oath taken, the curses of it written in a scroll and scraped into the waters, and the jealousy offering waved and offered.

Numbers 5:26 In-Context

24 Before he makes the woman drink the water, which may then cause her bitter pain,

25 the priest shall take the offering of flour out of the woman's hands, hold it out in dedication to the Lord, and present it on the altar.

26 Then he shall take a handful of it as a token offering and burn it on the altar. Finally, he shall make the woman drink the water.

27 If she has committed adultery, the water will cause bitter pain; her stomach will swell up and her genital organs will shrink. Her name will become a curse among her people.

28 But if she is innocent, she will not be harmed and will be able to bear children.