Numbers 5

Numbers 5:2

AN issue] Of their genitall seed comming from them, and under this infirmity in men is comprehended also the womens infirmity, of extraordinary issues of bloud.

Numbers 5:6

That men commit] Which are frequent among men, see of these kinds of sins, Leviticus 6:2 Against the Lord] See Leviticus 6:2.

Numbers 5:7

Then they shall confesse] The Italian hath it, If he confesse If voluntarily, or through inward conpunction publikely declareth, he to the priest, that he is guilty of such a sin: See upon Leviticus 5:5. and Leviticus 6:4.

Numbers 5:8

The mn] To whom the wrong hath beene done: Have no] If he be dead and there be no neere kinsman left to inherit his rights. Others construe it, i there be no body to demand the thing, or unto whom it may be restored; f the man hath stoln it, not knowing whose it was. Now this is a supply of the Law given, Leviticus 6:2. to which end it seemeth that it is here repeated, To the Priest] as Gods minister, and who representeth God in such businesses.

Numbers 5:9

Every offering] The Italian hath it, Every heave offering] see upon Exodus 29:24; Exodus 29:28 They bring] for to offer them unto the Lord.

Numbers 5:10

Hallowed things] The meaning is, that every Priest shall have for himself, and for his family, that which he himself offereth, and in the course of his service, of all voluntary and extraordinary offerings, but not of the commanded and generall ones, as of the first fruits and tithes.

Numbers 5:13

No witnesse] Because that a proved adultery was to be punished by death, Leviticus 20:10. Deuteronomy 22:22. now it seemeth that all this is to be understood, in case the woman denieth it, and submits her self to this fearfull triall.

Numbers 5:15

For her] Because that none were to present themselves before God empty, the man therfore desiring a proofe of his wives innocency, there was an offering required; Oyle] oyle and incense being alway joyned with meat offerings, Leviticus 21:1-24. the oile signifying Gods mercy towards the sinner; and the incense, the prayer of faith, and a good conscience acceptable unto God. But in this offering of jealousie, there was no prayer for pardon, but an imprecation of revenge, and punishment: No sweet savour of a good conscience truly manifested, but an evill one of a sinister report; see upon Leviticus 5:11 Of memoriall] by which the remembrance of the misdeed, is in a manner awakened before God, to incite him to punishment.

Numbers 5:16

Before] In the court of the Sanctuary, with her face turned towards the sanctuary.

Numbers 5:17

Water] Out of the laver, Exodus 30:18. or of the water of separation, Numbers 19:9 Earthen] for such vessels were employed in diverse purifications, Lev. 4. 5. 50.Dust] to signifie that the woman appearing in judgement in a place sanctified by Gods prosen, should find the effect of it to her condemnation, in case she did rashly deny a thing which she had indeed committed before God.

Numbers 5:18

Uncover] In signe that she presented her self before God, to whom all things were manifest, Hebrews 4 13. and also in signe of a good conscience, which that woman professed to have, Put] because that all this ceremony was performed in the behalfe of the womans innocency, which she professed, it was fitting that she her self should call God to witnesse of it, and to be her defence: Bitter] either because the water was indeed so in taste, through the mixture of the dust, and other ingredients, as the Jewish opinions, or that it is only termed so by reason of its dolefull effects, upon the woman if she prove guilty; Causeth] which by a secret & supernaturall power shewed by God in the use of it, shall bring forth a manifest effect of his vengeance and curse, in case the woman be faulty, who hath undergone the same by an oath of execration.

Numbers 5:21

Make thee] Execute upon thee an exemplary judgement, to make thy person, thine offence and thy memory execrable to the whole Church Thy thigh]the naturall parts dedicated to generation. And it seemeth that therby is meant the disease of the falling of the matrice, by a totall loosening of the ligaments, or by the putrefaction of the substance, whereby it groweth incurable and the woman barren: So the punishment lighteth properly upon the organs or instruments of the sin.

Numbers 5:24

And bcme bitter] the Italian hath it, by the bitter water] by being no common water, but a signe & mears ordained by God, to sale up by a dolefull effect, the truth of the denied act, and his justice, which was called upon.

Numbers 5:25

Shall take] Before he give the woman this water to drink; Shall wave] see upon Exo. 29 24.

Numbers 5:26

The memoriall] See upon Leviticus 2:2.

Numbers 5:31

Guilt’esse] For his lightnes & unjust suspitions; so that the presumptions were powerful, & the signes pregnant; & acknowledged for such by the high priest though the womā had not sinned. So the Lord by pardoning of some humane weaknesse, hath presved the faith and peace of matrimony, either by the manifestation of the womans unchastity, or by 〈…〉eing her from the violent passion of her husbands jealousie, which are two evils, that break matrimoal society, Her iniquity] through the punishment described, v. 27. sent by God the punisher of secret ns, suth as this womans fault was, and it is not likely that she was any further subject to the judges ordinary punishment.