Bible Commentaries
Numbers 5

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Verse 2

children = sons. See note on Numbers 1:2 .

the dead = the soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 . Compare Ch. Numbers 6:6 . Leviticus 21:1 .Leviticus 19:11 . See note on Leviticus 19:28 . Touching a dead man, rendered the one who touched unclean seven days (Numbers 19:11 ); touching other dead creatures, rendered unclean only till the evening (Leviticus 11:27 , Leviticus 11:39 , Leviticus 11:40 ).

Verse 3

put out, without the camp. Compare Numbers 12:14 , Numbers 12:15 .

Verse 4

as = according as.

Verse 6

man. Hebrew. 'ish. See App-14 .

sin. Hebrew. chat'a. App-44 .

men. Hebrew. 'adam. See App-14 .

trespass. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 7

recompense = return back.

trespass. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 .

Verse 8

kinsman. Hebrew. goel, redeemer. See note on Exodus 6:6 .

atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 .

Verse 9

offering = heave offering. Hebrew. terumah. See App-43 , and note on Exodus 29:27 .

holy = separated. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 10

hallowed = separated. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:5 .

whatsoever. Some codices, with one printed edition, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and whatsoever".

his: i.e. the priest's.

Verse 14

the spirit of jealousy = a jealous motion or affection of the mind. Here, Hebrew. ruach ( App-9 ) is put for the feelings, &c., as in Isaiah 11:2 .Ephesians 1:17 . Hosea 4:12 .

Verse 15

offering. Hebrew. korban, approach-offering. See App-43 .

ephah. See App-51 .

barley. No other grain, and no other measure. Compare Leviticus 2:1 .

offering: i.e. of jealousy. Hebrew. minchah ( App-43 .), meal offering.

offering: i.e. of memorial, i.e. causing iniquity to be remembered.

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

Verse 17

holy = separated: taken from the laver. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

tabernacle. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 .

Verse 18

bitter water. Hebrew water of bitters, Genitive of cause: i.e., causing bitterness of spirit. Compare Psalms 109:18 . Proverbs 5:4 . Bitter = ham'arim.

curse. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew. ham'arim.

Verse 21

charge, &c. This ordeal was provided for in the Laws of Khammurabi, 131, 132. See App-15 .

Verse 22

Amen. A Hebrew word, transferred to the Greek = verily, truly so. If one adjured another and he replied "Amen", it was thereby considered as confirmed by an oath. Compare 2 Corinthians 1:20 .

Verse 24

become bitter = turn to bitterness.

Verse 25

offering. Hebrew. minchah, gift or meal offering. See App-43 .

wave. See note on Exodus 29:27 .

offer it = bring it. Hebrew. karab. App-43 .

Verse 26

memorial. The handful (Leviticus 2:2 ) so-called.

burn. Hebrew. katar. See App-43 .

Verse 28

be. Hebrew she be.

Verse 31

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

bear her iniquity = bear the punishment of it. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 . Compare Leviticus 20:17 , Leviticus 20:19 , Leviticus 20:20 . Ezekiel 4:4 , Ezekiel 4:5 . See App-44 .