22 and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach , and make your abdomen swell and your thigh waste away ." And the woman shall say , "Amen . Amen ." 23 'The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll , and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness . 24 'Then he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse , so that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness . 25 'The priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman's hand , and he shall wave the grain offering before the Lord and bring it to the altar ; 26 and the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as its memorial offering and offer it up in smoke on the altar , and afterward he shall make the woman drink the water . 27 'When he has made her drink the water , then it shall come about, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband , that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness , and her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away , and the woman will become a curse among her people .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 5:22-27
Commentary on Numbers 5:11-31
(Read Numbers 5:11-31)
This law would make the women of Israel watch against giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. When no proof could be brought, the wife was called on to make this solemn appeal to a heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, could say "Amen" to the adjuration, and drink the water after it, unless she disbelieved the truth of God, or defied his justice. The water is called the bitter water, because it caused the curse. Thus sin is called an evil and a bitter thing. Let all that meddle with forbidden pleasures, know that they will be bitterness in the latter end. From the whole learn, 1. Secret sins are known to God, and sometimes are strangely brought to light in this life; and that there is a day coming when God will, by Christ, judge the secrets of men according to the gospel, Romans 2:16. 2 In particular, Whoremongers and adulterers God will 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 lusts 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.