Numbers 5:11-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 5:11-31

We have here the law concerning the solemn trial of a wife whose husband was jealous of her. Observe, I. What was the case supposed: That a man had some reason to suspect his wife to have committed adultery, Luke 5:12-14. Here, 1. The sin of adultery is justly represented as an exceedingly sinful sin; it is going aside from God and virtue, and the good way, Prov. 2:17. It is committing a trespass against the husband, robbing him of his honour, alienating his right, introducing a spurious breed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... At the same time, and delivered to him a new law: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:12

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them ,.... It being an affair which concerned them: if any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him ; the sin of adultery, which is a going aside out of the way of virtue and chastity, and a trespass against an husband, a breach of the marriage covenant with him, a defiling his bed, doing an injury and dishonour to him, bringing confusion into his family, and a spurious offspring to possess his substance: though this is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:13

And a man lie with her carnally ,.... That is, is suspected that he has so done, not that it is a clear case, for it follows: and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close ; so that it is not known by her husband, nor by any other; "she hath hid herself", so Ainsworth, being in a private place with another man, though warned to the contrary by her husband: and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her ; of her being defiled, though there may be of her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:14

And the spirit of jealousy come upon him ,.... A thought rises up in his mind, a strong suspicion works in him, which he cannot resist and throw off, but it remains with him, and makes him very uneasy, that his wife has defiled his bed, as it follows: and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled ; that his wife is defiled by a man; and which is the real case, as it afterwards appears, though at present he is not certain, only has a suspicion of it: or if the spirit of jealousy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:15

Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest ,.... Not to the high priest but to a common priest, anyone then officiating in his course; for there was a jealousy offering to be offered up before the Lord upon the altar, which none but a priest might do; and besides, the whole process in this affair was to be carried, on by him: according to the Misnah F14 Ut supra, (Misn. Bava Kama, c. 9.) sect. 3, 4. , the man brought his wife first to the sanhedrim, or court of judicature in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:16

And the priest shall bring her near ,.... Or "offer it", as the Vulgate Latin version, that is, the offering of jealousy: and set her before the Lord ; or "it", the offering; for which the Tigurine version is more express,"let the priest offer that sacrifice, and set that before the Lord,'for the setting of the woman before the Lord is spoken of in Numbers 5:18 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:17

And the priest shall take holy water ,.... Out of the laver, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra: in an earthen vessel ; which held half a log, and that was but a quarter of a pint, or three egg shells; for no more was assigned, to a suspected woman, according to the Misnah F18 Sotah, c. 2. sect. 2. Menachot, c. 9. sect. 3. . Some say only a fourth part: an earthen vessel was made use of, as everything vile and mean was in this affair: and of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:18

And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord ,.... In the east of the tabernacle, with her face to the west, where was the holy of holies, so Ben Gersom; but not immediately for they had her from place to place, as Jarchi says, till she was weary, and her mind disturbed, that she might confess; and if she said, I am defiled, she rent the writing of her dowry, and went out; but if she said, I am pure, they brought her to the eastern gate, the gate of Nicanor, for there they made women... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:19

And the priest shall charge her by an oath ,.... Or give her her oath: and say unto the woman, if no man hath lain with thee : besides her husband: and thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband ; which is but another phrase expressive of the same thing, the sin of adultery: be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse ; if this is the case, it shall produce no bitter effects, or bring any curse upon thee. read more

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