Numbers 5:5-10

Rules of Restitution

5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

6 "Speak to the {Israelites}: 'When a man or woman {commits} any of the sins of humankind by acting unfaithfully, [it is] a sin against Yahweh, and that person will be guilty;

7 they will confess their sin that they did and will make restitution [for] their guilt by adding a fifth {to it} and giving [it] {to whomever was wronged}.

8 But if the man does not have a redeemer to make restitution to him for the reparation, the reparation is to be given to Yahweh for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement by which atonement is made for him.

9 And every contribution of all the holy objects of the {Israelites} that they bring to the priest for him will be his.

10 The holy objects of a man will be for him; whatever he gives to the priest will be for him.'"

Numbers 5:5-10 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [b]. Literally "does"
• [c]. Hebrew "his"
• [d]. Literally "on top of it"
• [e]. Literally "to whomever he was guilty"
• [f]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [g]. That is, the priest