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Numbers 5:15 - Jealousy offering reveals truth?

Numbers 5:15 - במדבר 5:15

Hebrew Text

וְהֵבִיא הָאִישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן וְהֵבִיא אֶת־קָרְבָּנָהּ עָלֶיהָ עֲשִׂירִת הָאֵיפָה קֶמַח שְׂעֹרִים לֹא־יִצֹק עָלָיו שֶׁמֶן וְלֹא־יִתֵּן עָלָיו לְבֹנָה כִּי־מִנְחַת קְנָאֹת הוּא מִנְחַת זִכָּרוֹן מַזְכֶּרֶת עָוֺן׃

English Translation

then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an efa of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense on it; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

Transliteration

Ve'hevi ha'ish et-ishto el-hakohen ve'hevi et-korbanah aleha asirit ha'eifa kemach se'orim lo-yitzok alav shemen ve'lo-yiten alav levonah ki-minchat kena'ot hu minchat zikaron mazkeret avon.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְהֵבִ֨יא הָאִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֮ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהֵבִ֤יא אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָהּ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ עֲשִׂירִ֥ת הָאֵיפָ֖ה קֶ֣מַח שְׂעֹרִ֑ים לֹֽא־יִצֹ֨ק עָלָ֜יו שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹֽא־יִתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּֽי־מִנְחַ֤ת קְנָאֹת֙ ה֔וּא מִנְחַ֥ת זִכָּר֖וֹן מַזְכֶּ֥רֶת עָוֺֽן׃
וְהֵבִ֨יא הָאִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֮ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהֵבִ֤יא אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָהּ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ עֲשִׂירִ֥ת הָאֵיפָ֖ה קֶ֣מַח שְׂעֹרִ֑ים לֹֽא־יִצֹ֨ק עָלָ֜יו שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹֽא־יִתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּֽי־מִנְחַ֤ת קְנָאֹת֙ ה֔וּא מִנְחַ֥ת זִכָּר֖וֹן מַזְכֶּ֥רֶת עָוֺֽן׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Sotah Ritual: An Offering of Jealousy

The verse describes the procedure for the sotah offering, brought when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity (Bamidbar 5:15). This offering is unique in several ways, as explained by Rashi and other commentators:

  • Barley Meal Instead of Wheat: Rashi notes that barley is typically animal fodder, symbolizing that the sotah has acted in a base, animalistic manner (Rashi on Bamidbar 5:15).
  • No Oil or Frankincense: Unlike most meal offerings, this one lacks oil and frankincense, which represent joy and pleasantness. Their absence signifies that the act under suspicion is devoid of sanctity (Rambam, Hilchot Sotah 3:14).

The Purpose of the Offering

The Torah calls it a "minchat kena'ot" (offering of jealousy) and "minchat zikaron" (offering of memorial). The Talmud explains that this offering serves two purposes:

  • It brings the suspected sin to remembrance before Hashem (Sotah 7b).
  • It serves as a test of her innocence or guilt through the miraculous waters (Ramban on Bamidbar 5:15).

Spiritual Dimensions

The Midrash Tanchuma (Naso 5) teaches that this ritual contains profound lessons about marital fidelity and divine justice. The unusual ingredients and procedures emphasize:

  • The seriousness of violating sacred boundaries in marriage.
  • Hashem's direct involvement in maintaining purity within the Jewish home.
  • The concept that hidden sins cannot remain concealed before the Almighty.

Halachic Considerations

The Mishnah (Sotah 2:1) discusses the specific measurements and procedures for this offering, noting that it must be exactly one-tenth of an efa of barley flour. The precise measurement teaches that even in situations of suspicion, we must adhere strictly to halachic requirements and not allow emotions to override proper procedure.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 15a
The verse is discussed in the context of the laws concerning the sotah (a woman suspected of adultery), particularly regarding the offering she brings.
📖 Sotah 19a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the nature of the offering and the absence of oil and frankincense, symbolizing the seriousness of the accusation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the 'offering of jealousy' mentioned in Numbers 5:15?
A: The 'offering of jealousy' (minchat kena'ot) is a special barley flour offering brought by a husband who suspects his wife of infidelity (sotah). Unlike regular meal offerings, it contains no oil or frankincense, symbolizing the seriousness of the situation. This is explained in Rashi and the Talmud (Sotah 15a).
Q: Why does the suspected wife bring a barley offering instead of wheat?
A: The Talmud (Sotah 14a) explains that barley is animal food, and this offering hints that the suspected woman acted in an animalistic manner if guilty. Ramban adds that barley is inferior to wheat, reflecting the degraded nature of adultery.
Q: Why are oil and frankincense omitted from this offering?
A: Rashi (on Numbers 5:15) explains that oil and frankincense represent joy and pleasantness, which are inappropriate for this serious situation of suspected marital betrayal. The plain barley meal reflects the gravity of the matter.
Q: What does 'bringing iniquity to remembrance' mean in this verse?
A: The phrase means this offering serves to bring hidden sins to light. As Rambam explains (Hilchot Sotah 3:1), the Torah's procedure will reveal whether the woman is innocent or guilty, thus 'remembering' (revealing) any hidden wrongdoing.
Q: Does the sotah ritual still apply today?
A: No, the Talmud (Sotah 47a) states that the sotah ritual ceased when adultery became widespread. Rambam (Hilchot Sotah 4:19) explains that once certain sages stopped administering the bitter waters, the practice was discontinued.