THE RITUAL CLEANSING OF THE CAMP (NUMBERS 5:1). The first essential was a symbolic purifying of the camp. This symbolic act at this particular time was in order to stress the importance of keeping the camp clean and wholesome so that Yahweh might dwell in it. It went beyond what would be the norm,... [ Continue Reading ]
MAINTAINING HARMONY IN THE CAMP: CONFESSION AND RESTITUTION FOR SIN AND THE NEED FOR ATONEMENT (NUMBERS 5:5). Not only ritual uncleanness but a trespass against another would ‘defile the camp' and prevent Yahweh dwelling there, and cause dissension within the camp. This was especially true when ano... [ Continue Reading ]
MAINTAINING HARMONY IN THE CAMP: THE LAW OF JEALOUSY (NUMBERS 5:11). Primary with regard to trespasses against a neighbour was to trespass against his wife. This was an especially heinous trespass which deeply defiled the camp, and if proved would incur the death penalty. It was of vital importance... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ADULTERY IS HIDDEN FROM HER HUSBAND AND THERE IS NO WITNESS (NUMBERS 5:13). Numbers 5:13 “ And it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act,” The emphasis here is on the fact that this grav... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY COMES ON THE MAN WHETHER SHE IS DEFILED OR NOT (NUMBERS 5:14) Numbers 5:14 “ And the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled, or if the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled,” What if... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN IS TO BRING HIS WIFE TO THE PRIEST WITH AN OFFERING OF MEMORIAL (NUMBERS 5:15). Numbers 5:15 “ Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal. He shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense on it, for it i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOMAN IS TO BE BROUGHT NEAR BEFORE YAHWEH AND THE PRIEST THEN MAKES THE WATER OF TESTING (NUMBERS 5:16) Numbers 5:16 ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh.' The priest was then to arrange for the woman to be brought to the courtyard of the Sanctuary, and he would br... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOMAN IS MADE TO STAND BEFORE YAHWEH AS PREPARED FOR IT BY THE PRIEST (NUMBERS 5:18). Numbers 5:18 ‘And the priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and let the hair of the woman's head go loose, and put the grain offering of memorial in her hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST NOW CHARGES HER WITH AN OATH TO SPEAK TRULY (NUMBERS 5:19). Numbers 5:19 ‘And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say to the woman, If no man has lain with you, and if you have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband, be you free from this water of bitterness... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST CHARGES THE WOMAN WITH AN OATH OF CURSING (NUMBERS 5:21). Numbers 5:21 ‘Then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say to the woman, “Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh makes your thigh to fall away, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WOMAN IS TO BE MADE TO DRINK OF THE WATER OF TESTING BEFORE YAHWEH (NUMBERS 5:23). Numbers 5:23 ‘And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness,' The priest was then to write the curse on papyrus or clay or stone, after which he woul... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST THEN TAKES THE JEALOUSY OFFERING OF BARLEY GRAIN FROM THE HAND OF THE WOMAN (NUMBERS 5:25) Numbers 5:25 ‘And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the grain offering before Yahweh, and bring it to the altar,' Then before she drank... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIEST BRING THE MAN'S OFFERING OF MEMORIAL BEFORE YAHWEH AND BURNS IT ON THE ALTAR. THEN HE MAKES HER DRINK THE WATER (NUMBERS 5:26). Numbers 5:26 ‘And the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial, and burn it on the altar, and afterwards he shall make the woman dri... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WOMAN IS DEFILED HER BODY WILL SWELL AND SHE WILL BE ACCURSED AMONG THE PEOPLE (NUMBERS 5:27). Numbers 5:27 ‘And when he has made her drink the water, then it shall come about, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water which causes the curse shall... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WOMAN IS INNOCENT SHE WILL BE REVEALED AS CLEAN AND WILL BE FREE OF ANY BLAME FOR HIDDEN ADULTERY BEFORE GOD AND MEN (NUMBERS 5:28). Numbers 5:28 ‘And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean, then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.' But if she was innocent, if the woman was not... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE LAW OF JEALOUSY FOR WHEN A WOMAN GOES ASIDE AND COMMITS ADULTERY, OR IS SUSPECTED OF IT, FREEING HER HUSBAND FROM ANY GUILT IN REGARD TO IT (NUMBERS 5:29) Numbers 5:29 ‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes aside, and is defiled, or when the spirit of... [ Continue Reading ]