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
Numbers 5:11-15
John Gill
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
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 5:14
The spirit of jealousy - קנאה רוח ruach kinah , either a supernatural diabolic influence, exciting him to jealousy, or the passion or affection of jealousy, for so the words may be understood. read more
John Calvin
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 5:11
Verse 11 11.And the Lord spoke unto Moses. Although this ceremony appears to be part of the legal services, still I have thought fit to postpone it to this place, because it relates to the observance of the Seventh Commandment. The object of it is, lest women, trusting that they would escape punishment, should abandon themselves to unchastity, or lest jealousy should lead to dissension, and, by alienating the mind of the husband from the wife, should loosen the ties of pure affection, since... read more
John Calvin
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 5:15
Verse 15 15.Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest. This offering is different from the rest, which have been heretofore mentioned, because it is a kind of adjuration, whereby the woman exposes herself to be accursed. Pure meal without frankincense or oil is therefore offered, since the rite (80) of expiation would not be in accordance with the curse. That the woman may be more afraid of perjuring herself, she is presented before God, with her head uncovered too, as if the priest would... read more
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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