Numbers 5

2 out of the camp. That is, beyond its precincts. See Lev. xiii. 46.

7 with the principal thereof. Rather, “shall restore his trespass in its sum”; i.e., all that he has wrongfully taken; adding a fifth as a fine. The penalty was lighter than it would have been in ease of his conviction by legal evidence, and not by his own confession. See Exod. xxii. 1.

8 the ram, etc. Presupposing an acquaintance with the law in Lev. vi. 6, 7; vii. 7.

12. If any man’s wife, etc. The legal punishment of adultery, when proved, was death by stoning (John viii. 5); but sometimes the crime might be suspected on the part of the husband, and a feeling of “jealousy” awakened within him, with or without cause. Hence the present enactment.

13 with the manner. Rather, “in the act” (R.V.).

15 he shall bring her offering. i.e., he must provide it for her out of his own property.—no oil, etc. The absence of oil and frankincense in this offering probably implied the baseness of the crime; and showed that it was not an oblation, but an “offering of memorial” to the Lord, calling upon Him to punish the accused, if guilty.

16 before the Lord. God here directs a solemn appeal to be made to Himself, to bring to light hidden crime, or to vindicate suspected innocence. None of the actions here prescribed had any natural tendency to produce these effects on the woman, even when guilty; and they could only do so by special Divine interposition. They, therefore, totally differ from the ordeals by fire, boiling water, etc., which have been devised by human superstition, in which it was scarcely possible for the innocent to escape uninjured.

19 instead of thy husband. Heb., “under thy husband”; or, “being in the power of thy husband.” (See R.V. and marg.)

21 make thee a curse and an oath. i.e., an example of the fulfilment of the imprecated curse.

23 a book. Or, “scroll”; or, “writing.”