Numbers 5:1-8

1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

2 Command the sons of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper and every one that has an issue and anyone who is defiled by the dead.

3 Both male and female shall ye put out; ye shall put them outside the camp; that they not defile the camp of those among whom I dwell.

4 And the sons of Israel did so and put them outside the camp; as the LORD spoke unto Moses, so did the sons of Israel.

5 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

6 Speak unto the sons of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person is guilty,

7 then they shall confess their sin which they have done, and he shall recompense his guilt with the principal thereof and add unto it the fifth part thereof and give it unto him against whom he is guilty.

8 But if that man has no redeemer to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest, beside the ram of the reconciliations, whereby reconciliation shall be made for him.

Numbers 5:1-8 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.