SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 05

PURITY

A TEST FOR UNFAITHFULNESS

From Numbers 5

Remove unclean people from the congregation, Adonai Commanded. Move them outside the camp so they will not defile the congregation of the people among whom I dwell. Unclean persons include men and women who are lepers, those with running sores or those temporarily defiled by touching a dead body. The people did what Adonai had Commanded them through Moses. Adonai also Commanded, whoever does something unfaithful to Adonai commits sin. That person must confess his sin and repay what he has stolen to the person he wronged, adding an extra fifth with the repayment. If the wronged person has died and there is no close relative who can receive the repayment, it must be given to a priest as though it were given to Adonai. The person must also present a ram for atonement to remove the guilt of his sin. All sacred gifts to Adonai shall be brought to the priests and they will belong to the priests. Adonai also gave Instructions to the people concerning suspected adultery. If a husband is jealous or suspicious of his wife and has reason to believe that she has committed adultery, but there are no witnesses, the husband must bring his wife to the priest with an offering. This offering shall be a tenth of an ephah {about a tenth of a bushel} of barley meal, with no oil or frankincense on it. It will be a cereal offering to confirm or deny the husband’s suspicions, to cause the woman to remember her sin if she is guilty. When the priest brings the woman before Adonai, he will mix in a clay jar some holy water with dust from the tabernacle floor. The priest will let down the woman’s hair and place in her hands the cereal offering of suspicion. While the priest holds the muddy, bitter water, he will stand before the woman. The priest then makes the woman take an oath, saying, ‘If you have not committed adultery, you will be free from the effects of this bitter water which brings a curse. But if you have committed adultery, then let your thigh shrivel and your body swell when you drink this bitter water.’ The woman takes an oath saying, ‘Amen. Let this happen as you have said.’ After the priest writes the curses in a book he washes the writing off into the bitter water. Later, when he makes the woman drink the water, it causes bitter pain within her if she is guilty. The priest removes the cereal offering of suspicion from the woman’s hand, waves it before Adonai and brings it to the altar. Then he burns one handful on the altar, representing the entire offering. After that the priest makes the woman drink the bitter water. If the woman is guilty, the water will cause bitter pain in her, her body will swell and her thigh will shrivel. Then she will be a curse among her people. If she is innocent however, these things will not happen to her and she will be able to have a child. This is the Law to use when a husband is suspicious that his wife has committed adultery. When the husband is jealous and suspicious, he shall present his wife to Adonai so that the priest may judge her according to this Law. If the woman is guilty and her body is cursed, she alone will pay for her crime. The husband will not be considered responsible for the terrible things that happen to her.

COMMENTARY

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: BANQUET AND PARTY SCENES

The life the Israelites left behind them in Egypt was one of slavery, toil and suffering. They did not take part in the wealthy Egyptians’ custom of giving parties and banquets almost every night. For the Egyptians, any holiday and there were many, was a reason for great celebration. Guests at such a party would be greeted by pretty servants, who would fit a flowered collar around their necks. The men were then anointed with perfumed oil. The women had wax-and-perfume cones placed on their heads, which melted in the warmth of the room and dripped scent down on their rich wigs and elaborate party gowns. Sometimes the men and women would remain together, but sometimes they separated and went into different rooms. After the perfuming, another servant poured water over the guests’ hands to wash them and gave each a flower to hold and sniff for the evening. A figure of a mummy was displayed as a reminder of the shortness of life. Each guest was urged to enjoy himself as much as he could before death overtook him. The tables were heaped with many different kinds of breads and honey cakes, the cakes covered with cut flowers. Platters were piled high with elaborate dishes of geese, duck, chicken and pigeon. Roast beef or lamb appeared on very important occasions. Onions, leeks, cucumbers, watermelon, papyrus shoots and nuts were available, as well as a large selection of fish dishes, eggs and cheese. Figs and melons made up the dessert. Wine and beer were poured from large jars. Black barley beer was particularly popular. Drinks often came in cups with pointed bottoms that could be set down on their sides only after they were emptied. Served by maids, each guest would be told, [Drink this and get drunk.] He might answer, [I would love to be drunk.] For entertainment, a harp player or orchestra with dancing girls performed. Acrobats, actors, storytellers and magicians might also take part. Inevitably some of the guests ate and drank too much and got sick or fainted. If the host was thoughtful or wealthy enough, he provided strong-armed slaves to carry them home. The upset stomach and aching head of the next morning was called a {geb-tet,} which in Egyptian meant {half a head.} The life which the wealthy Egyptian lived at these parties was quite different from that of the Hebrew slave, especially one who tried to live for YHVH.