Numbers 5:3-12

3 Send all these ritually unclean people out, so that they will not defile the camp, where I live among my people."

4 The Israelites obeyed and expelled them all from the camp.

5 The Lord gave Moses ¹

6 the following instructions for the people of Israel. When any of you are unfaithful to the Lord and commit a wrong against someone,

7 you must confess your sin and make full repayment, plus an additional 20 percent, to the person you have wronged.

8 But if that person has died and has no near relative to whom payment can be made, it shall be given to the Lord for the priest. This payment is in addition to the ram used to perform the ritual of purification for the guilty person.

9 Also every special contribution which the Israelites offer to the Lord belongs to the priest to whom they present it.

10 Each priest shall keep the offerings presented to him.

11 The Lord commanded Moses

12 to give the Israelites the following instructions. It may happen that a man becomes suspicious that his wife is unfaithful to him and has defiled herself by having intercourse with another man. But the husband may not be certain, for his wife may have kept it secret - there was no witness, and she was not caught in the act. Or it may happen that a husband becomes suspicious of his wife, even though she has not been unfaithful.

Numbers 5:3-12 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.

Cross References

• 1. 5.5-8Leviticus 6.1-7.