Protecting Marital Faithfulness

Protecting Marital Faithfulness

The Lord said to Moses, 

“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. 

“Suppose a man’s wife goes astray, and she is unfaithful to her husband, and she has sex with another man, but neither her husband nor anyone else knows about it. 

She has defiled herself, even though there was no witness, and she was not caught in the act. 

If her husband becomes jealous, and is suspicious of his wife, and needs to know, whether or not, she has defiled herself, the husband must bring his wife, to the priest. 

He must also bring an offering, of two quarts of barley flour, to be presented, on her behalf. 

Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a jealousy offering—an offering to prove, whether or not she is guilty. 

“The priest will then present her, to stand trial, before the Lord. 

He must take some holy water, in a clay jar, and pour into it, dust, that he has taken, from the Tabernacle floor. 

When the priest has presented the woman, before the Lord, he must unbind her hair, and place, in her hands, the offering of proof—the jealousy offering, to determine, whether her husband’s suspicions are justified. 

The priest will stand before her, holding the jar, of bitter water, which brings a curse, to those who are guilty. 

The priest will then, put the woman, under oath, and say to her, 

‘If no other man has had sex with you, and you have not gone astray, and defiled yourself, while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune, from the effects, of this bitter water, which brings on the curse. 

But, if you have gone astray, by being unfaithful to your husband, and have defiled yourself, by having sex with another man—’ 

“At this point, the priest must put the woman under oath, by saying, 

‘May the people know… that the Lord’s curse is upon you, when He makes you infertile, causing your womb to shrivel, and your abdomen to swell. 

Now, may this water, which brings the curse, enter your body, and cause your abdomen to swell, and your womb to shrivel.’ 

And the woman will be required to say, 'Yes, let it be so.’ 

And the priest will write these curses, on a piece of leather, and wash them off, into the bitter water. He will make the woman drink the bitter water, which brings on the curse. When the water enters her body, it will cause bitter suffering, if she is guilty. 

“The priest will take the jealousy offering, from the woman’s hand, …lift it up, before the Lord, …and carry it, to the altar. 

He will take a handful, of the flour, as a token portion, and burn it, on the altar, …and he will require the woman, to drink the water. 

If she has defiled herself, by being unfaithful to her husband, the water, which brings on the curse, will cause bitter suffering. 

Her abdomen will swell, her womb will shrink, and her name will become a curse, among her people. 

But, if she has not defiled herself, and is pure, then she will be unharmed, and will still be able, to have children. 

“This is the ritual law, for dealing with suspicion. 

If a woman goes astray, and defiles herself, while under her husband’s authority, or if a man becomes jealous, and is suspicious that his wife has been unfaithful, the husband must present his wife, before the Lord, and the priest will apply this entire ritual law, to her. 

The husband will be innocent of any guilt, in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.” 

I wonder why there is no ritual law for an unfaithful husband? …or for a man that defiles the wife of another man?

Numbers 5:11–31 (NLT)

Praise be to God!