How does Numbers 5:21 relate to the Seventh Commandment in Exodus 20:14? Setting the Scene - Numbers 5:11-31 describes God’s provision for testing a wife suspected of adultery when no witnesses exist. - Exodus 20:14 states the Seventh Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.” - Together, these passages reveal God’s unwavering commitment to marital faithfulness and His justice in safeguarding it. The Seventh Commandment: Guarding the Covenant - “You shall not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) - Highlights: • Marriage is a covenant established by God (Genesis 2:24). • Adultery violates that covenant and threatens society’s moral fabric (Proverbs 6:32-33). • God’s law protects both spouses and the integrity of the family (Hebrews 13:4). Numbers 5:21: The Adultery Test Explained - “The priest shall have the woman swear under this oath of the curse—‘May the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people if the LORD makes your thigh shrivel and your abdomen swell.’ ” (Numbers 5:21) - Key points: • The ceremony occurred only when a husband suspected unfaithfulness but had no proof. • The test was public, solemn, and invoked God’s direct judgment, placing the outcome entirely in His hands. • Innocence brought no harm; guilt resulted in physical consequences, vindicating the innocent party and deterring secret sin. Connecting the Two Passages - Shared purpose: Both passages uphold marital fidelity. - Exodus 20:14 gives the timeless command; Numbers 5:21 provides an immediate, practical means of enforcing it in the community. - By involving the priest and the sanctuary, Numbers 5 underscores that adultery is first a sin against God, not merely against a spouse (cf. Psalm 51:4). - The severe potential penalty in Numbers 5 mirrors the seriousness of the command in Exodus 20:14, showing God’s righteous judgment on hidden guilt (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Wider Biblical Echoes - Jesus intensifies the command: “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) - The New Testament still warns of God’s judgment on adultery: “God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Hebrews 13:4b). Practical Takeaways - God sees and judges even secret sins; integrity matters when no one else is watching. - Marriage is sacred and worth protecting with honesty, accountability, and mutual trust. - The fear of the Lord fosters faithfulness, while His grace offers forgiveness and restoration to those who repent (1 John 1:9). |
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