Numbers 5:24-28

24 and make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse. If she is guilty, the water will make her sick.

25 Then the priest will take the grain offering for jealousy from her. He will present it before the Lord and bring it to the altar.

26 He will take a handful of the grain, which is a memorial offering, and burn it on the altar. After that he will make the woman drink the water

27 to see if she is not pure and if she has sinned against her husband. When it goes into her, if her stomach gets big so that she is not able to have another baby, her people will reject her.

28 But if the woman has not sinned, she is pure. She is not guilty, and she will be able to have babies.

Numbers 5:24-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 5

This chapter contains a repetition of some former laws, concerning putting unclean persons out of the camp, Nu 5:1-4; making restitution in case of trespass against another, Nu 5:5-8; and of giving the offering of all holy things and all hallowed things to the priests, Nu 5:9,10; and a new law concerning jealousy, in a man, of his wife, Nu 5:11-14; when she was to be brought to the priest, and various rites and ceremonies to be used, Nu 5:15-23; who was to give her bitter water as a trial of her chastity, which, if guilty, would have a strange effect upon her, and make her accursed, but if not, would not affect her, and she would be free and happy, Nu 5:24-31.