Numbers 5:26

And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, [even] the memorial thereof, and burn [it] upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.

And the priest {H3548} shall take an handful {H7061} of the offering {H4503}, even the memorial {H234} thereof, and burn {H6999} it upon the altar {H4196}, and afterward {H310} shall cause the woman {H802} to drink {H8248} the water {H4325}.

The cohen is to take a handful of the grain offering as its reminder portion and make it go up in smoke on the altar; afterwards, he is to make the woman drink the water.

Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water.

and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.

Commentary

Numbers 5:26 describes a specific action within the elaborate ritual known as the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," designed to determine the guilt or innocence of a woman accused of adultery in ancient Israel when there were no witnesses.

Context

This verse is part of a unique legal and religious procedure detailed in Numbers 5:11-31. A husband who suspected his wife of infidelity, but lacked direct proof, would bring her to the priest at the Tabernacle. The ritual involved a symbolic offering and the drinking of specially prepared "bitter water." The aim was to appeal directly to God for divine revelation, underscoring the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness of covenant breaking within the Israelite community.

Key Actions and Symbolism

  • The Offering: The priest first takes a "handful of the offering," which is a grain offering (specifically barley meal without oil or frankincense, as detailed in Numbers 5:15). This offering is referred to as the "memorial thereof" (Hebrew: azkarah). This term signifies bringing the matter to God's remembrance or drawing His attention to it. Unlike typical joyful grain offerings, its plainness reflects the solemn and investigative nature of the situation.
  • Burning on the Altar: Burning a portion of the offering on the altar consecrates it to the Lord, inviting His divine presence and judgment into the proceedings. This act highlights that God Himself is the ultimate arbiter in this deeply personal and potentially divisive matter concerning marital fidelity.
  • Drinking the Water: After these preliminary steps, the core of the ordeal commences: the woman is compelled to drink the "bitter water." This water was mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and ink from curses written on a scroll and then washed into the water. The belief was that if she was guilty, the water would cause internal affliction (Numbers 5:27); if innocent, she would remain unharmed and be able to conceive.

Linguistic Insight

The term "memorial" (Hebrew: azkarah) used here for the offering is significant. It literally means "remembrance" and is often associated with offerings that bring something to God's attention or cause Him to remember His covenant or promises. In this context, it emphasizes that the entire ordeal is a direct appeal to God for His divine discernment and judgment in a case where human evidence is insufficient.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice: The ordeal demonstrates God's concern for justice and truth, especially in matters of marital fidelity where human evidence might be lacking. It posits God as the ultimate judge.
  • Sanctity of Marriage: The existence of such a severe ritual underscores the high value placed on faithfulness within the covenant of marriage in ancient Israel.
  • Protection of the Innocent: While seemingly harsh, the ordeal also provided a means for a falsely accused woman to be publicly vindicated, protecting her from baseless suspicion and restoring her honor.
  • Deterrent to Sin: The very threat of undergoing such a public and divinely-attested ordeal likely served as a powerful deterrent against secret infidelity.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the bitter water is not practiced today, the underlying principles remain relevant. This passage reminds us of God's unchanging nature as a God of truth and justice. It emphasizes the importance of fidelity in relationships and the sacredness of marriage, a covenant established by God. Moreover, it speaks to the comfort of knowing that God sees and knows all things, even when human understanding or evidence is incomplete. Believers today trust in God's ultimate justice, which is fully revealed through Christ, who is our Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 2:2

    And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, [to be] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:

  • Leviticus 5:12

    Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, [even] a memorial thereof, and burn [it] on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a sin offering.

  • Leviticus 2:9

    And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 6:15

    And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which [is] upon the meat offering, and shall burn [it] upon the altar [for] a sweet savour, [even] the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
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