Numbers 5:29

29 “This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,

Numbers 5:29 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:29

This [is] the law of jealousies
Which was appointed by God to deter wives from adultery, and preserve the people of Israel, the worshippers of him, from having a spurious brood among them; and to keep husbands from being cruel to their wives they might be jealous of, and to protect virtue and innocence, and to detect lewdness committed in the most secret manner; whereby God gave proof of his omniscience, that he had knowledge of the most private acts of uncleanness, and was the avenger of all such. The reasons why such a law was not made equally in favour of women, as of men, are supposed to be these: because of the greater authority of the man over the woman, which would seem to be lessened, if such a power was granted her; because marriage was not so much hurt, or so much damage came to families by the adultery of men, as of women; because women are more apt to be suspicious than men, and in those times more prone to adultery, through their eager desire of children, that they might not lie under reproach {o}:

when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband, and is
defiled;
is suspected of going aside to another man, and is supposed to be defiled by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Vid. Salden. ut supra, (Otia, l. 1. Exercitat. 6.) sect. 19.

Numbers 5:29 In-Context

27 If she has defiled herself by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings on the curse will cause bitter suffering. Her abdomen will swell and her womb will shrink, and her name will become a curse among her people.

28 But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, then she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.

29 “This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,

30 or if a man becomes jealous and is suspicious that his wife has been unfaithful, the husband must present his wife before the LORD, and the priest will apply this entire ritual law to her.

31 The husband will be innocent of any guilt in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.”