Bible Commentaries
Numbers 5

Introduction

Overview

Numbers 5:1, The unclean are removed out of camp; Numbers 5:5, Restitution is to be made in trespass; Numbers 5:11, The trial of jealousy.

Verse 2

put out of the camp: The camp of Israel being now formed, with the sanctuary of God in the centre, orders were given that the lepers and unclean persons should be excluded from the camp, according to the laws given at different times on these subjects. - See the marginal references. This expulsion was founded:

1. On a purely physical reason; for the diseases were contagious, and therefore there was a necessity of putting those afflicted with them apart, that the infection might not be communicated.

2. There was also a spiritual reason: the camp was the habitation of God; and therefore, in honour of Him who had thus condescended to dwell with them, nothing impure should be permitted to remain.

3. Further, there was a typical reason; for the camp was the emblem of the church, where nothing that is defiled should enter, and in which nothing that is unholy should be tolerated. Numbers 12:14, Leviticus 13:46, Deuteronomy 24:8, Deuteronomy 24:9, 2 Kings 7:3

and every: Leviticus 15:2-27

and whosoever: Numbers 9:6-10, Numbers 19:11-16, Numbers 31:19, Leviticus 21:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 24:14 - without Numbers 19:3 - without the camp Numbers 31:13 - without the camp Deuteronomy 23:10 - General Joshua 6:23 - left them 2 Chronicles 26:21 - dwelt Haggai 2:13 - General Matthew 8:2 - a leper Luke 17:12 - which

Verse 3

without: 1 Kings 7:3, 1 Corinthians 5:7-13, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, Titus 3:10, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 12:16, 2 John 1:10, 2 John 1:11, Revelation 21:27

defile not: Numbers 19:22, Haggai 2:13, Haggai 2:14

in the midst: Leviticus 26:11, Leviticus 26:12, Deuteronomy 23:14, Psalms 68:18, Isaiah 12:6, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3

Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:12 - without the camp Leviticus 15:31 - Thus shall Numbers 12:14 - let her be Numbers 35:34 - Defile not Deuteronomy 23:10 - General Joshua 6:23 - left them 2 Chronicles 26:21 - dwelt Matthew 8:2 - a leper Luke 17:12 - which

Verse 6

When: Leviticus 5:1-4, Leviticus 5:17, Leviticus 6:2, Leviticus 6:3

and that person: This expression does not merely refer to the actual criminality of the person, but to his consciousness of guilt respecting it: for this case must be distinguished from that of a person detected in dishonesty, which he attempted to conceal.

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:9 - for all manner of trespass Leviticus 4:27 - common people Joshua 7:19 - make Joshua 22:15 - General Ezekiel 33:15 - give

Verse 7

confess: Leviticus 5:5, Leviticus 26:40, Joshua 7:19, Job 33:27, Job 33:28, Psalms 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:8-10

and he shall: Not only confession, but restitution, in every possible case, is necessary in order to obtain forgiveness.

with the principal: Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 6:4-7, Leviticus 7:7, Luke 19:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:1 - he shall Exodus 22:9 - for all manner of trespass Leviticus 5:16 - the fifth Leviticus 6:5 - restore Matthew 3:6 - confessing

Verse 8

have no: Leviticus 25:25, Leviticus 25:26

beside the ram: Leviticus 6:6, Leviticus 6:7, Leviticus 7:7

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:5 - restore 2 Kings 12:16 - trespass money

Verse 9

offering: or, heave offering, Numbers 18:8, Numbers 18:9, Numbers 18:19, Exodus 29:28, Leviticus 6:17, Leviticus 6:18, Leviticus 6:26, Leviticus 7:6-14, Leviticus 10:13, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:3, Deuteronomy 18:3, Deuteronomy 18:4, Ezekiel 44:29, Ezekiel 44:30, Malachi 3:8-10, 1 Corinthians 9:7-13

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:26 - holy 1 Samuel 2:28 - did I give 1 Corinthians 9:13 - they

Verse 10

hallowed things: 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:7, 1 Peter 2:9

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:26 - holy 1 Samuel 2:28 - did I give 1 Corinthians 9:13 - they

Verse 11

Reciprocal: Proverbs 30:20 - General

Verse 12

Numbers 5:19, Numbers 5:20, Proverbs 2:16, Proverbs 2:17

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:29 - when a wife goeth

Verse 13

Leviticus 18:20, Leviticus 20:10, Proverbs 7:18, Proverbs 7:19, Proverbs 30:20

Reciprocal: Romans 7:3 - So then

Verse 14

Rooach kinah, either a supernatural diabolic influence, exciting him to jealousy, or, rather, the passion or affection of jealousy. Numbers 5:30, Proverbs 6:34, Song of Solomon 8:6, Zephaniah 3:8, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Verse 15

her offering for her: This coarse offering, without oil or frankincense, implied the baseness of the crime of which the woman was suspected, and the mournful state of her family. It was not an atoning sacrifice, but an oblation for a memorial, as solemnly referring the decision to God, and calling upon him either to acquit or punish. Leviticus 5:11, Hosea 3:2

bringing: 1 Kings 17:18, Ezekiel 29:16, Hebrews 10:3

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:18 - and put Numbers 5:25 - priest Numbers 5:29 - when a wife goeth Ezekiel 21:23 - call

Verse 16

bring her near: or, rather, "bring it near;" i. e. her offering

set her: Rather, "set it," i.e., the offering; for the woman is afterwards ordered to be set before the Lord - Numbers 5:18. Leviticus 1:3, Jeremiah 17:10, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:22, Revelation 2:23

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 8:31 - the oath

Verse 17

holy water: That is, water from the laver; called holy, because separated from common to sacred uses. This is the most ancient account of the trial by ordeal, which obtained so generally among various nations; and it was calculated to fortify the minds of the Israelitish women in the hour of temptation, and to render them watchful against all occasions of exciting suspicion in the breasts of their husbands. Numbers 19:2-9, Exodus 30:18

of the dust: Job 2:12, Jeremiah 17:13, Lamentations 3:29, John 8:6, John 8:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:5 - earthen vessel Numbers 5:18 - the bitter water

Verse 18

the priest: Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:19-23

uncover: Leviticus 13:45, 1 Corinthians 11:15, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 4:13

and put: Numbers 5:15, Numbers 5:25, Numbers 5:26

the bitter water: So called from the bitter effects which it had upon the guilty. Numbers 5:17, Numbers 5:22, Numbers 5:24, Deuteronomy 29:18, 1 Samuel 15:32, Proverbs 5:4, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Isaiah 38:17, Jeremiah 2:19, Revelation 10:9, Revelation 10:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 2:2 - the memorial Leviticus 10:6 - Uncover Numbers 5:16 - set her Jeremiah 8:14 - water 1 Corinthians 11:6 - but

Verse 19

charge her: Matthew 26:63

with another: or, being in the power of thy husband, Heb. under thy husband. Romans 7:2,*Gr.

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:12 - General Numbers 5:28 - And if Numbers 5:29 - when a wife goeth Deuteronomy 21:7 - General Joshua 6:26 - adjured 2 Chronicles 6:22 - the oath

Verse 20

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:12 - General Numbers 5:27 - if she be defiled

Verse 21

an oath: Joshua 6:26, 1 Samuel 14:24, Nehemiah 10:29, Matthew 26:74

The Lord make: Isaiah 65:15, Jeremiah 29:22

rot: Heb. fall, 2 Chronicles 21:15, Proverbs 10:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:3 - swear

Verse 22

go into: Numbers 5:27, Psalms 109:18, Proverbs 1:31, Ezekiel 3:3

the woman: Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Job 31:21, Job 31:22, Job 31:39, Job 31:40, Psalms 7:4, Psalms 7:5

Amen: Psalms 41:13, Psalms 72:19, Psalms 89:52, John 3:3, John 3:11, John 5:24, John 5:25, John 6:53,*Gr.

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:18 - the bitter water Deuteronomy 22:22 - General Nehemiah 5:13 - Amen Jeremiah 28:6 - Amen Matthew 6:13 - Amen 1 Corinthians 14:16 - Amen

Verse 23

write these: Exodus 17:14, Deuteronomy 31:19, 2 Chronicles 34:24, Job 31:35, Jeremiah 51:60-64, 1 Corinthians 16:21, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Revelation 20:12

blot: Psalms 51:1, Psalms 51:9, Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 44:22, Acts 3:19

Reciprocal: Colossians 2:14 - Blotting

Verse 24

Zechariah 5:3, Zechariah 5:4, Malachi 3:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:18 - the bitter water

Verse 25

priest: Numbers 5:15, Numbers 5:18

wave: Exodus 29:24, Leviticus 8:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 6:20 - the priest shall

Verse 26

Leviticus 2:2, Leviticus 2:9, Leviticus 5:12, Leviticus 6:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:18 - and put

Verse 27

if she be defiled: Numbers 5:20, Proverbs 5:4-11, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Romans 6:21, 2 Corinthians 2:16, Hebrews 10:26-30, 2 Peter 2:10

the woman: Deuteronomy 28:37, Psalms 83:9-11, Isaiah 65:15, Jeremiah 24:9, Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 29:22, Jeremiah 42:18, Zechariah 8:13

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:22 - go into 1 Kings 8:32 - condemning 2 Chronicles 6:23 - requiting 2 Chronicles 21:15 - by disease Psalms 109:18 - so let Proverbs 5:11 - when

Verse 28

And if: Numbers 5:19, Micah 7:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Peter 1:7

and shall: Psalms 113:9

Verse 29

the law: Leviticus 7:11, Leviticus 11:46, Leviticus 13:59, Leviticus 14:54-57, Leviticus 15:32, Leviticus 15:33

when a wife goeth: Numbers 5:12, Numbers 5:15, Numbers 5:19, Isaiah 5:7, Isaiah 5:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 6:21 - the law Numbers 30:16 - General John 4:18 - is not

Verse 30

Reciprocal: Numbers 5:14 - General Numbers 30:16 - General

Verse 31

be guiltless: Psalms 37:6

bear: Numbers 9:13, Leviticus 20:10, Leviticus 20:17-20, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 2:8, Romans 2:9

Reciprocal: Numbers 14:33 - bear Ezekiel 14:10 - they shall Ezekiel 44:10 - bear