Numbers 5:11-21

11 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

12 loquere ad filios Israhel et dices ad eos vir cuius uxor erraverit maritumque contemnens

13 dormierit cum altero viro et hoc maritus deprehendere non quiverit sed latet adulterium et testibus argui non potest quia non est inventa in stupro

14 si spiritus zelotypiae concitaverit virum contra uxorem suam quae vel polluta est vel falsa suspicione appetitur

15 adducet eam ad sacerdotem et offeret oblationem pro illa decimam partem sati farinae hordiaciae non fundet super eam oleum nec inponet tus quia sacrificium zelotypiae est et oblatio investigans adulterium

16 offeret igitur eam sacerdos et statuet coram Domino

17 adsumetque aquam sanctam in vase fictili et pauxillum terrae de pavimento tabernaculi mittet in eam

18 cumque steterit mulier in conspectu Domini discoperiet caput eius et ponet super manus illius sacrificium recordationis et oblationem zelotypiae ipse autem tenebit aquas amarissimas in quibus cum execratione maledicta congessit

19 adiurabitque eam et dicet si non dormivit vir alienus tecum et si non polluta es deserto mariti toro non te nocebunt aquae istae amarissimae in quas maledicta congessi

20 sin autem declinasti a viro tuo atque polluta es et concubuisti cum altero

21 his maledictionibus subiacebis det te Dominus in maledictionem exemplumque cunctorum in populo suo putrescere faciat femur tuum et tumens uterus disrumpatur

Numbers 5:11-21 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.