Numbers 5

A special command of God to remove all unclean persons forth the Camp, vers. 1. Etc. which is executed; 4. Laws of restoring such things as were taken away or purloined from any, 5. Of hallowed things, that they belong to the Priests, 9. Of a husband’s jealous apprehension about his wives honesty, and the ceremonies to be used for the clearing thereof, 11. And a declaration of the same, 27. With a conclusion of that law, 29.

1. And the LORD spoke to Moseh.

2. Command the Children of Israel, that they dismiss out of the camp all Leprous, and all running (persons,) [comp. Leviticus 15:2.] and all those that are unclean of a dead (body) [Heb. of a soul, see Lev. 19. On vers. 28.]

3. From the man to the woman [i.e. whether it be a man or woman] thou shalt dismiss them, thou shalt dismiss them without the Camp; that they [viz. the rest of the Israelites] do not pollute their camps [viz. by suffering such unclean persons to have their abode amongst them. There were (as some do hold) three Camps; the Camp of the LORD, which was the Tabernacle, the Camp of the Levites, and the Camp of the Israelites: the leprous persons were excluded out of them all; but those with running issues, out of the two former] in the midst of whom I dwell. [i.e. among whom I continue with my grace and favour, whom I do keep and protect by my special providence, and whom withal I guide and govern by my word and spirit, guiding and conducting them to everlasting Salvation, comp. Leviticus 26:11, 12. With the annotate. and Ezech. 37. 28. 2 Cor. 6. 16.]

4. And the children of Israel did so, and sent them without the Camp, according as the LORD had spoken to Moseh, so did the children of Israel.

5. Moreover the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying; Speak unto the children of Israel, when a man or woman shall have done ought of any human sins, [Heb. sins of man; understand such sins as men commit of human frailty, proceeding from the inherent corruption of Nature, comp. Lev, 5. 2, 3. And this kind of trespass is opposed to sin which is committed after the manner of men, who by nature are very propense and much inclined to them. Otherwise sins of men, i.e. committed against such and such men, or our Neighbour] have transgressed by transgression against the LORD, then that some soul is guilty [soul, i.e. person, see Ger. 12. On verse 5.]

6. No text on verse.

7. And they shall confess their sin which they have done: (viz. before the Priest, as who was to offer in the LORD’s behalf, there being no redeemer at hand, verse 8. And comp. vers. 5. 6, 21, 22, 23, 24.] after that he shall [viz. the guilty] turn out his guilt again, [i.e. that which made himself guilty] according to the capital sum (or the principal) thereof, and shall add thereunto the fifth part of the same above it, [thereby to requite the damage which the owner sustained the whiles of having been deprived of the use of his goods] and shall give it to him, on whom he made himself guilty.

8. But if that man shall have no Redeemer, [viz. he to whom the wrong was done, he being dead, or having lest no kindred, nor special heir, nor any one else that might lawfully own and claim the goods, and to whom it might be restored: In such a case the goods fell to the LORD, and by that means unto the Priests] for to turn out the guilt back unto him (then) that guilt which is returned unto the LORD shall be the Priests, except the ram of the expiation, wherewith he shall make expiation for him.

9. Besides all the hearing [This word is not taken here in particular, as opposed to the wave-offering, Exodus 29:27. But in general for the things which are given by any to the Priest, and thereby are consecrated to the LORD, and may thenceforth be designated to no other use, than is commanded, See Exodus 25:2. Numbers 15:19. Nehemiah 10:39.] of all hallowed things of the Children of Israel, which they bring unto the Priest shall be his [namely the Priests, and so in the next verse, see Lev. 6. On vers. 16.]

10. And every one’s hallowed things shall be his, whatsoever any shall have given to the Priest shall be his.

11. Moreover the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying.

12. Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them; When ever any one’s [Heb. man, as above chapter 4. 19. Etc.] wife, shall have turned aside; [in the opinion or suspicious conceit of her husband, he charging her of breach of Wedlock by Adultery, and being so possessed with jealousy in that behalf, that he cannot he at rest in his mind] and by trespass shall have trespassed against him.

13. That a man shall have lain with her by copulation of seed, [See of this same phrase, Leviticus 15:18, 19, 20.] and it shall be hid before the eyes of her husband, and she shall have concealed her self, being nevertheless become unclean, [viz. by Adultery] and there is no witness against her, and she is not surprised.

14. And the spirit of Jealousy is come upon him, [Understand hereby the passion of Jealousy in a man doubting his wives honesty, and entertaining very ill opinions of the same: The word Spirit doth often signify the affections or passions, whereby a man is either inwardly inclined, or outwardly instigated to the commiting of some sins or infirmities, or to the performance of some virtues and good works , see Isaiah 19:14. Hosea 4:12. 1 Cor. 4. 21. Galatians 6:1. 2 Tim. 1. 7.] that he is jealous of his wife, she being become defiled, or that the spirit of jealousy is come upon him, that he is jealous of his wife although she be not defiled.

15. Then shall that man bring his wife unto the Priest, and shall bring her sacrifice along for her, a tenth part of an Epha, [see Exodus 16:36.] of barley meat, he shall power no oil upon it, nor lay frankincense upon it, [the reason is as some conjecture, that the oil was a token of a pleasing and acceptable smell, neither of which agreed with this case] because it is a meat-offering of jealousy, a meat-offering of remembrance, which bringeth iniquity to remembrance.

16. And the Priest shall make her approach, and shall put (or place) her before the face of the LORD. [i.e. before the Tabernacle wherein the Ark was, as a token of the presence of God, see Lev. 1. On vers. 3.]

17. And the Priest shall take holy water [which was taken forth out of the holy Laver, standing by the Altar of burn-offering wherein the water was kept, which they were to make use of about any holy service there. See Exodus 30:18. And 40. 30.] into an earthen Vessel: the Priest shall take of the dust, which is upon the floor of the Tabernacle, and put (it) into the water.

18. After that shall the Priest place the woman before the face of the LORD, and shall uncover the head of the woman, [This was done. 1. To declare that the woman power to take an oath: as on the contrary, the covering of her head was a token, that she stood under the power of her husband, 1 Cor, 11. 5, 10. 2. That she might be the better seen and known, and her words and behavior the better observed by the whole Congregation. 3. That she might be so much the more ashamed and afraid, to utter and declare anything but the very truth, as standing bare and uncovered there before the presence of God and all the Assembly] and shall lay the meat-offering of remembrance upon her hands, which is the meat-offering of bitter water [so called, by reason of the many and bitter (or grievous) pains the woman was bringing upon her self by the heavy curse and imprecation she made against her self, in case of being guilty, see vers. 24. And 27. Comp. Exodus 32:20.] which bringeth the curse with it [i.e. the punishment of God mentioned verse 22. See likewise below. Vers. 24.]

19. And the Priest shall swear her, [i.e. he shall make her to declay by oath, whether she committed Adultery, yea or no, Otherw. Adjure her] and shall say to that woman; if none have lain with thee, and if, being under thy husband [Otherw. Instead of thy husband, i.e. those having lain with him instead of thy husband, and so ver. 20. And 29.] thou have not turned aside to uncleaness: (then) be free from this bitter water, which doth bring the curse with it. [i.e. thou shalt be guiltless and free from the punishment, which would otherwise light upon thee, by the drinking of this water.]

20. But if being under this husband thou be turned aside, and if thou he become unclean, that a man have lain with thee [see of the Hebrew phrase here used, Lev.18. 20, 23. And chapter 20. 15.] besides thy Husband.

21. (Then shall the Priest swear (or adjure) that woman with the oath of a cursing (or imprecation,) [The LORD would have this Law confirmed three manner of ways. 1. By an oath of imprecation, to be made by the woman accused, in this verse and the next. 2. By the writing down or this act, which was to be done by the Priest, yet so nevertheless, that the note or parchment, was to be dipt and washed in the water, vers. 23. 3. By the drinking of the bitter water (into which the written note or schedule, containing the curse and imprecation was washed off as it were) which was likewise to be performed by the woman, whose case it concerned, verse 24.] and the Priest shall say to the woman) the LORD set thee for a curse, and for an oath in the midst of the People, [i.e. he make thee become a pattern of cursing and perjury; that other people shall take thee for an example of an accursed person, having not only committed so foul a sin, but likewise denied it so stoutly with a solemn oath and imprecation] the LORD causing thy thigh to fall away, and thy belly to swell.

22. That this same water, which bringeth the accursing with it enter into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to fall away, then the woman shall say, Amen, Amen. [Amen is a word, which the Hebrews use, 1. In assenting to any thing, Deuteronomy 27:15, 16. Nehemiah 8:7. Revelation 5:14. 2. In confirming and assevering of any relation, Matthew 5:18. And 6. 21, etc. 3. In wishing for any good, Jeremiah 11:5. And chapter 28. 8. Revelation 22:20. 4. In receiving and expecting of any evil threatened as here; it is doubled sometimes to increase and strengthen the signification; as here, and Psal. 89. 53. John 3:3, 11. And c. 5. 10. Etc. The Word doth properly signify, be it true, or, it is true, or be it thus, so be it done.]

23. After that shall the Priest write these same curses into a schedule, [Or small note paper] and he shall blot it out, [or, wipe it off, wash it out] with the bitter water.

24. And he shall give that bitter water, which bringeth the accursing with it, unto that woman to drink, that the water which bringeth the accursing with it [See above on verse 18.] enter into her for bitterness. [i.e. that the bitter punishments of God may seize upon her, being guilty.]

25. And the Priest shall take out of the hand of that woman the meat-offering of jealousies, and he shall wave the same meat-offering before the face of the LORD, and shall offer the same upon the Altar.

26. The Priest shall likewise gripe a handful of that meat-offering, the same offering, which was to be kindled and burnt, comp. Leviticus 2:2. And the Annot.] and shall kindle it upon the Altar, and after the shall he give that woman, that water to drink.

27. When now he shall have given her that water to drink, it shall come to pass, if she were unclean, and have transgressed by transgression against her husband, that the water which bringeth accursing with it, shall enter into her for bitterness, and her belly shall swell and her thigh decay, [this water had not this operation by nature, but by the special ordinance of God, who by the same, either executed his just judgement upon the guilty person, or manifested his promise on the guiltless] and that woman shall be for a curse [see above vers. 21] in the midst of her people.

28. Yet if the woman be not defiled, but is clean; she shall be free, and shall conceive seed (be sowed with seed) [i.e. become fruitful and bear Children]

29. That is the law of the jealousies; when a woman being under her husband shall have turned aside and become unclean.

30. Or when the Spirit of jealousy shall have come upon a man, and he shall have been jealous of his wife, that he put the woman before the face of the LORD. [See above on verse 16.] the Priest fulfill his whole Law on her.

31. And the husband shall be guiltless of the iniquity, [i.e. although the husband shall have accused his wife upon wrong surmising, yet shall not he be punished for it; or the husband having performed this, shall be guiltless of the Adultery of his wife; whereas on the contrary, if he should connive and wink at it, he should be guilty] but that same woman shall bear her iniquity. [See Lev. 5. On verse 1.]