What is the meaning of Numbers 5:24? He is to have the woman drink • The priest, acting as God’s appointed representative, requires the accused wife to swallow the prepared mixture, following the detailed steps already given in Numbers 5:17–23. • This action underscores that accusations of adultery are not settled by human guesswork but by bringing the matter openly before the LORD (Numbers 5:16, 19; Deuteronomy 19:15). • God provides a clear, orderly process so neither husband nor wife is left under enduring suspicion—mirroring the principle that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). the bitter water that brings a curse • The water is “bitter” because it contains dust from the tabernacle floor, a powerful reminder that sin defiles and that God’s holiness exposes hidden wrongdoing (Numbers 5:17; Leviticus 11:44). • Calling it “water that brings a curse” signals consequence: if guilt exists, God Himself renders judgment (Numbers 5:21–22; Deuteronomy 29:19–21). • Scripture repeatedly warns that sin eventually turns sweet promises into bitterness (Proverbs 5:3–4; Galatians 6:7). and it will enter her • The phrase points to a physical act with spiritual weight: the mixture goes “inside,” leaving the verdict entirely in God’s hands (Job 20:14–15; Psalm 109:18). • No human witness or priestly manipulation decides the outcome; only the LORD discerns the heart (1 Samuel 16:7; Hebrews 4:13). • This echoes later truths that what is within a person ultimately determines blessing or judgment (Matthew 15:18). may cause her bitter suffering • The word “may” highlights conditionality: if innocent, she remains unharmed and vindicated (Numbers 5:28). If guilty, tangible physical affliction follows (Numbers 5:27), sparing her husband from retaliatory sin while upholding marital purity (Proverbs 6:32–35). • God ties moral failure to real-life consequences, reinforcing the principle: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23; James 1:15). • Yet the ordinance doubles as protection for the innocent, proving God’s justice is always tempered with mercy (Psalm 103:8–10). summary Numbers 5:24 portrays a divinely ordered test designed to expose hidden adultery and protect marital fidelity. The priest compels the woman to drink the bitter, curse-bearing water, symbolizing God’s holy scrutiny. If guilt exists, the water enters and produces suffering; if innocence prevails, she remains untouched, her honor restored. Throughout, the passage demonstrates God’s commitment to truth, righteousness, and safeguarding the innocent while ensuring sin never goes unaddressed. |
    |