SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:17
Luego tomará el sacerdote del agua santa en un vaso de barro; tomará también el sacerdote del polvo que hubiere en el suelo del tabernáculo, y lo echará en el agua.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 5:17
Verse 17. Holy water] Water out of the laver, called holy because consecrated to sacred uses. This is the most ancient case of the trial by ordeal. See at "chap. v. 31". In an earthen vessel] Supposed by the Jews to be such as had never been previously used.
Dust that is in the floor] Probably intended to point out the baseness of the crime of which she was accused.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And the priest shall take holy water , etc.] Out of the laver, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra: in an earthen vessel ; which held half a log, and that was but a quarter of a pint, or three egg shells; for no more was assigned, to a suspected woman, according to the Misnah f38 . Some say only a fourth part: an earthen vessel was made use of, as everything vile and mean was in this affair: and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put [it] into the water ; first the water was put in, and then the dust, as Ben Gersom observes: there was a place a cubit square, where was a marble table, and a ring fixed in it, and when he lifted it up he took dust from under it, and put it so as it might be upon the top of the water f39 ; which was used, either, as the Targum of Jonathan suggests, because the end of all flesh is to come to dust, and so to put her in mind of her original and her end; and in like manner the earthen vessel might signify, that she would be broke to pieces as that vessel; as also it might direct her thoughts to the tempter, by the influence of whose temptation she had been drawn into this sin, dust being the serpent’s food; and this being taken off the floor of the tabernacle, might add to the veneration of it, and make it more solemn and awful to drink of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-31 - This law would make the women of Israel watch against giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment suc suspicions might occasion. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. When n proof could be brought, the wife was called on to make this solem appeal to a heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, coul say "Amen" to the adjuration, and drink the water after it, unless sh disbelieved the truth of God, or defied his justice. The water i called the bitter water, because it caused the curse. Thus sin is called an evil and a bitter thing. Let all that meddle with forbidde pleasures, know that they will be bitterness in the latter end. From the whole learn, 1. Secret sins are known to God, and sometimes ar strangely brought to light in this life; and that there is a day comin when God will, by Christ, judge the secrets of men according to the gospel, Ro 2:16. 2 In particular, Whoremongers and adulterers God wil surely judge. Though we have not now the waters of jealousy, yet we have God's word, which ought to be as great a terror. Sensual lust will end in bitterness. 3. God will manifest the innocency of the innocent. The same providence is for good to some, and for hurt to others. And it will answer the purposes which God intends __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ולקח 3947 הכהן 3548 מים 4325 קדשׁים 6918 בכלי 3627 חרשׂ 2789 ומן 4480 העפר 6083 אשׁר 834 יהיה 1961 בקרקע 7172 המשׁכן 4908 יקח 3947 הכהן 3548 ונתן 5414 אל 413 המים׃ 4325
