Numbers 5:11 stands among the instructions in Numbers 5 and 6 and introduces the law concerning jealousy, belonging to the same section as the laws concerning the Nazarites and the blessing the priests were to place upon the children of Israel. The passage it introduces presents a peculiar offering that was not intended to make atonement for sin but to discover sin, guarding social purity. Under this law, willful violation of the seventh commandment brought death when proved by witnesses, while a husband who suspected his wife without direct evidence was to bring her to the priest. He was to bring with her a tenth part of an ephah of barley meal with no oil or frankincense mixed in, because it was an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial bringing iniquity to remembrance. In connection with this offering the priest administered bitter water, which produced no evil result if she was innocent but caused a condition leading to speedy and dreadful death if she was guilty, and in this way God rid Israel of even the suspicion of impurity. The type also shows that sin is not confined to the overt act, but open transgression is the fruit of an inward condition of the heart and character.
Under the law when a person sinned and the sin came to knowledge he was to confess it. Self-examination of past life should reveal wrongs, and humble confession of those wrongs should follow. Then forgiveness may be received.
Numbers 5:11 stands among the instructions in Numbers 5 and 6 and introduces the law concerning jealousy, belonging to the same section as the laws concerning the Nazarites and the blessing the priests were to place upon the children of Israel.
The passage it introduces presents a peculiar offering that was not intended to make atonement for sin but to discover sin, guarding social purity.
Under this law, willful violation of the seventh commandment brought death when proved by witnesses, while a husband who suspected his wife without direct evidence was to bring her to the priest.
He was to bring with her a tenth part of an ephah of barley meal with no oil or frankincense mixed in, because it was an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial bringing iniquity to remembrance.
In connection with this offering the priest administered bitter water, which produced no evil result if she was innocent but caused a condition leading to speedy and dreadful death if she was guilty, and in this way God rid Israel of even the suspicion of impurity.
The type also shows that sin is not confined to the overt act, but open transgression is the fruit of an inward condition of the heart and character.
Under the law when a person sinned and the sin came to knowledge he was to confess it.
Self-examination of past life should reveal wrongs, and humble confession of those wrongs should follow.
Then forgiveness may be received.